Sometimes Your Wisdom Teeth Need to be Extracted – McLeansville, NC
For the human mouth, the wisdom teeth are the final set of molars to grow in. Typically, they come in between the ages of 15 to 25 and are known to be the root cause of many oral health issues.
Summerfield Family Dentistry, of McLeansville, can visually examine your wisdom teeth (if they have already erupted) or use X-ray imaging to assess if your wisdom teeth need to be removed.
The popular understanding is wisdom teeth extraction is a rite of passage, however, that’s not always the case. Several things influence the need for wisdom tooth extraction.
- The shape of your mouth
- Size of teeth
- Position of your third molars
Therefore, a wisdom teeth removal procedure is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Having wisdom tooth problems, in McLeansville, schedule an appointment with Summerfield Family Dentistry!
Potential Wisdom Tooth Risk Problems – McLeansville
Wisdom teeth have a list of risks associated and addressing early can help to reduce the risk of problems like:
- Crowded teeth
- Pain
- TMJ problems
- Irregular tooth wear
- Infection
- Tooth decay
- Gum disease
- Cysts
- Damage to adjacent teeth
Due to their position, wisdom teeth are quite difficult to keep clean. Even with generally good oral hygiene, it’s possible that your wisdom teeth may develop an infection. Instead of treating the tooth with gum infection therapy or a filling, it’s normally the standard of care to have the teeth removed for proactive purposes. Your Summerfield Family Dentist, in McLeansville, can provide you with the best option for your oral health care.
How Wisdom Teeth Become Impacted – McLeansville
Many ages ago, the large third molars served an important purpose in our ancient human ancestors. They served as replacements during the loss of teeth a common occurrence. Their chewing surface was perfect to process a rough, fibrous diet.
Moreover, with their large jaws, ancient humans did not experience wisdom impaction issues. Currently, human jaws are smaller which is often not enough room for the third molars to come in properly. They often become impacted in the bone or gum tissue, which can result in numerous problems for the patient.
Problems Linked With Impacted Wisdom Teeth – McLeansville
Many of the issues and problems, from Impacted wisdom teeth, are caused by the difficulty of keeping the rearmost portion of the mouth clean. Bacteria can accumulate on the partially impacted teeth and cause infection or even abscesses that affect the tooth’s innermost portion and can allow bacteria to access the bloodstream and spread throughout the body.
Unfortunately, impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain and push the surrounding teeth out of proper positioning as they continue to try to emerge through the gum tissue. As a result, and to reduce their risk of such issues, many patients, who know that their wisdom teeth are impacted choose, to have them extracted as a preventive measure.
Common Wisdom Teeth Removal Questions – McLeansville
At this point, we, at Summerfield Family Dentistry, feel it is necessary to address a few common wisdom teeth removal questions from our McLeansville patients.
Will I feel pain? The surgical sites, from which the wisdom teeth are extracted, will be numbed using local anesthesia. The majority of patients opt for the sedation option, for maximum comfort during the procedure. Unfortunately, the effects of the sedation will not wear off completely by the time you leave the office, so you will need to make arrangements for a responsible adult to escort you home.
Some mild discomfort is normal in the first 24 hours after the anesthesia wears off, however, it can often be managed with over-the-counter painkillers and should begin to wane after a day or two. If you experience persistent or severe pain, this could suggest a post-operative infection, and you should follow up with our office for evaluation and necessary treatment.
What is the recovery period? For most patients, you will be able to return to work or school within a day or two after wisdom tooth extraction. However, patients are instructed to limit vigorous activity for a few more days, so if your job involves considerable physical demands, you may need to take a longer period of time off.
When should I have my wisdom teeth removed?
As you age, the wisdom tooth roots grow longer and more solidly attached to the bone. This process increases the removal difficulty in older patients and also can lead to an extended recovery period. Therefore, it is advised that patients pursue wisdom tooth extraction by age 25.
Some insurance providers may not offer as much coverage for the procedure on older patients, which is another consideration for scheduling the procedure. A Summerfield Family Dentist can determine whether your wisdom teeth are impacted as young as 14 or 15, so there is ample time to undergo wisdom tooth extraction in your late teens or early twenties.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction in McLeansville
To learn more about Wisdom Teeth Extractions or to find out if you’re a candidate to have them removed, Contact Us today to schedule an appointment. Summerfield Family Dentistry is the Trusted Family Dentist in McLeansville, NC.