Wisdom teeth are your third set of molars that erupt during your late teens or early twenties. These teeth can often cause problems for your oral health, as they can crowd your other teeth, grow in crooked, or cause other problems. They are typically extracted by the dentist, to fix these problems or to avoid issues in the future. We will generally monitor the growth of wisdom teeth to make sure they are properly aligned or to determine the appropriate treatment if one of them becomes a problem.
What Can Go Wrong With Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth can develop perfectly, in some cases. However, the problems they can cause might permanently damage your oral health, if the issue is not dealt with. Wisdom teeth can become impacted (not fully emerge), leaving the tooth at greater risk of tooth decay, because the tooth cannot be cleaned properly. They can also crowd your other teeth when your mouth does not have enough room for them, or emerge at an awkward angle.
How Do You Know if There is a Problem?
Pain and swelling may be symptoms of problems with your wisdom teeth erupting. If you experience these problems, or feel a wisdom tooth emerging, inform us so we can monitor the situation.
What Can You Expect During and After Extraction?
Wisdom teeth may be more complicated to extract than regular teeth, depending on their angle and if they are trapped in the jawbone, and may require the expertise of an oral surgeon. After you are given an anesthetic, and potentially sedated, the surgeon will carefully remove the tooth after accessing it underneath the jawbone. You may need pain medication after the procedure, and may experience bleeding and swelling. If discomfort persists for more than a day or two, then let your dentist or oral surgeon know.
ABOUT YOUR SOUTHLAKE FAMILY DENTISTS:
As a native Texan, Gregory Wright, DDS, opened his private practice in Southlake, TX in 1992. He and Dr. Victoria Heron are happily accepting new patients from Southlake, Grapevine, Keller, Trophy Club, Colleyville, and all surrounding communities. To learn more, call our office today at (817) 481-7999.
