When is it a good idea to have your wisdom teeth pulled?
Wisdom teeth, or 3rd molars, are the last permanent teeth to erupt. Usually erupting by the age of 21; wisdom teeth don’t always erupt without incidence – with many patients experiencing discomfort as the teeth are coming in, or after the eruption phase due to resulting crowding.
Carstairs Dentists – Dr. Hubert Ng, Dr. Justin Bhullar, and Dr. Jagatjit Dhillon share insight as to why many dentists in Carstairs and surrounding areas recommend the extraction of wisdom teeth. The eruption of these 3rd molars isn’t always a smooth event; in fact, for many young adults, these troublesome teeth can lead to an unexpected trip to the dentist in search of pain relief.
Why do wisdom teeth cause problems during or after the eruption?
The main reasons are:
Partial eruption of wisdom teeth – some wisdom teeth make an attempt at eruption and break through bone but only partially through the soft tissue (gum). Due to not enough space, or lack of signals to continue erupting – the tooth does not make it fully through the gum. The result is a flap of gum that partially covers the crown of the tooth.
This flap of tissue becomes a food trap – leading to gum infection.
3rd molars are the farthest teeth back in the mouth which makes them hard to keep clean regardless of whether they fully erupt or not. Having a partially erupted tooth is practically impossible to keep clean from bacteria and it’s only a matter of time before the infection becomes an issue.
NEW ADULT PATIENT FORM | NEW CHILD PATIENT FORM
Partially erupted wisdom teeth that are not fully exposed in the mouth need to be extracted to avoid the risk of developing pericoronitis – inflammation of the tissue surrounding the crown of the tooth. Always follow up with your dentist in Carstairs if any tooth has only partially erupted; as leaving it may lead to infection and extreme dental discomfort.
Wisdom teeth are crooked or in poor alignment – even if wisdom teeth manage to erupt fully, they often end up tipped, crooked, or leaning on the tooth in front. If not removed, the tipped wisdom tooth can cause damage to other tooth structures – such as roots. Your Dentist in Carstairs will take a full mouth x-ray – called a panorex – to accurately diagnose the position and health of the 3rd molars.
This x-ray often reveals wisdom teeth pressing on the roots of the molars in front of them. Dentists at Carstairs Dental explain that if not extracted; wisdom teeth will continue to press on the roots of the 2nd molars, causing them to erode and increasing the chance of losing the teeth.
Schedule an appointment today!
Dentists agree that the best time to take these teeth out is before they start causing problems. General Dentists at Carstairs Dental are experienced in Wisdom Teeth Extraction and encourage patients to contact their office prior to wisdom tooth discomfort. Call today for an appointment at 587-317-4388
