The last teeth to erupt are the wisdom teeth. They usually don’t make a showing until the late teen years or early twenties. There are some individuals who are fortunate enough to have adequate space in their jaws for these teeth to come in with no problems. However, many people have the woeful experience of feeling the discomfort of impaction and that ultimately leads to extraction.
What is Impaction?
When a tooth is about to erupt and it pushes on an adjacent tooth, it is called an impaction. When it comes to wisdom teeth, it is not unusual for them to be impacted. Wisdom teeth are known for coming in crooked or sideways. They often push against the adjacent molar causing swelling and pain. When this is the case, as it often is, an extraction is warranted.
Is an Extraction Always Necessary?
Generally wisdom teeth have trouble coming in straight and without any problems, however, there are some people whose jaws are able to accommodate the erupting teeth. In some instances it has to do with the size of the jawbone or the size of the tooth or teeth. In other cases, the second molar may be missing, which may allow the wisdom tooth to come in fine. In such a case it may be preferable for it to erupt and take the place of the missing second molar. However, this can only happen if it is erupting properly.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction
For many people the discomfort brings them to the dentist. As the wisdom teeth try to erupt, pushing on an adjacent tooth causes pain and swelling. Discomfort also occurs as the teeth break through the gums. Your dentist will help you decide the best way to handle extraction of your wisdom teeth.
Often patients will have all of their wisdom teeth pulled at one time. While the initial recovery can be uncomfortable, they do appreciate getting the ordeal over with. Other people may opt for getting two extractions one visit and returning for extraction of the remaining teeth at a later date.
The extractions themselves can occasionally be somewhat complicated. The roots of wisdom teeth can sometimes be long and curved, causing the extraction to take longer than that with a tooth with smaller, straighter roots. Also, the trigeminal nerve often runs close to the roots of the lower wisdom teeth. These extractions need to be executed with utmost care and precision.
Angleton Dental takes pride in offering our patients excellent dental care. We ensure that you have a positive and relaxing experience with us. We make wisdom teeth extraction as pain free and comfortable as possible. If you are experiencing discomfort from wisdom teeth, contact us for an examination. Your wisdom teeth may need to be extracted; we will do that with care and precision.
