I have always been an avid hockey player, and my love took a bad turn one day when I got struck in the mouth with the puck. It was a painful moment that left me with two teeth knocked out of my mouth. Had I taken the right steps after the accident, I could have possibly saved the teeth, but I did not know I had that option at the time. Thankfully, I worked up the courage to visit a dentist and ask what my options for teeth-replacement were. I was worried I would would have to live the rest of my life without smiling, but I was ecstatic to learn that I was the perfect candidate for dental implants. I created this blog to help others realize that there are so many options to replace missing teeth today that no one has to "just live with" an imperfect smile!
Wisdom tooth extraction is a fairly common practice, as many people opt to take the teeth out before they cause problems. This doesn't mean you should remove your unproblematic wisdom teeth if you don't want to. However, since wisdom teeth are associated with various dental issues, you should look out for signs of trouble and remove the affected teeth. With this in mind, check out these dental issues that necessitate wisdom tooth extraction.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are known as third molars, and they are the last to erupt in the mouth. Therefore, there may be inadequate space in the jaw to accommodate them. As a result, a portion of the tooth may fail to emerge above the gum. This is referred to as impaction, and it can cause the following dental issues:
Inflammation of the gum flap
In many cases of impaction, a flap of gum tissue sits on top of the impacted tooth. The pressure applied to the tissue during chewing can cause the flap to hurt or bleed. In severe cases, a cyst or small growth may develop on the flap, leading to severe pain, swelling around the jaw, red gums, and bad breath. Your best treatment option is to extract the impacted tooth.
Tooth decay
Impacted teeth are hard to clean. Food particles easily get trapped under the gum tissue, increasing the risk of bacterial action, tooth decay, and gum disease. When this happens, your best option is to extract the tooth. However, don't wait to deal with inflammation, gingivitis, and tooth decay. If you have an impacted wisdom tooth, have it removed before these oral health issues arise.
Oral infection
Impacted third molars allow harmful bacteria to erode the enamel and cause oral infection. If you're not keen on oral hygiene, bacteria may erode the adjacent teeth and infect them. When you get an infection, you must treat it with antibiotics before extracting the affected wisdom tooth.
Crowded Jaw
Many people lack adequate jaw space to allow wisdom teeth to develop properly. Therefore, as the teeth erupt, they push the adjacent teeth out of alignment. Over time, the pressure applied to the adjacent teeth can cause severe alignment issues, which can cause these dental problems:
If your third molars are looking crooked or misaligned, it's only a matter of time before they cause severe misalignment. You can extract the molars to create room for the rest of the teeth and allow them to remain in proper alignment. Extracting the molars early may save you from undergoing orthodontic treatment to achieve straight teeth.
Contact a general dentistry office for more information.
Share24 June 2022
