Get Wise About Wisdom Teeth

Learn when wisdom teeth extractions are recommended.

When they come in correctly, wisdom teeth or third molars can help you chew better. But when they come in incorrectly, you can end up with a lot of potential complications on your hands. For many years, dentists advised that just about every patient get their wisdom teeth pulled as a precaution against the risk of future complications.

However, these days, attitudes have changed, and the new wisdom is that wisdom teeth should only be extracted if they are causing or seem likely to cause a specific oral health problem. This is of course good news for anyone who dreads the thought of oral surgery.

Here are the kinds of problems you and your dentist will need to be on the lookout for as your wisdom teeth come in:

Poorly Positioned Teeth: The most common issue with wisdom teeth is that they simply don’t come in nice and straight and in line with other teeth. Often this happens because there is not really enough room for them as they are coming in. This can cause the wisdom teeth as well as the other teeth to become crowded and crooked, which means they are difficult to clean. You may not be able to reach all the nooks and crannies with your toothbrush or squeeze the floss in between the teeth, in which case you are likely to develop issues with tooth decay and gum disease.

Partially Erupted Teeth: Sometimes, overcrowding causes wisdom teeth to stop coming in when they are only halfway out of the gums. This can create a path for oral bacteria to follow into your gums and lead to infection. You may experience pain, swelling, and stiffness in your jaw if this happens.

Impacted Teeth: Wisdom teeth that have not broken through the gums are called impacted wisdom teeth. Cysts sometimes develop on or near an impacted tooth, which could be dangerous if it causes damage to the roots of nearby teeth or your jawbone.

Worried About Your Wisdom Teeth?

If you are experiencing pain in or around your wisdom teeth, or if you are concerned about your inability to clean them properly, it may be time to consider wisdom teeth extraction. At California Dental Group, our experienced dentists will be happy to take a look at your teeth, confirm whether or not they need to be removed, and explain the wisdom teeth extraction procedure to you in detail. You can rely on us to take excellent care of you during and after your surgery. Contact us today to make your first appointment.