Per the American Public Health Association, within the United States 5 million people have nearly 10 million wisdom teeth extracted annually. That’s a lot of wisdom teeth. It is important to understand many different aspects when it comes to wisdom tooth removal. This type of procedure, which is surgical, is handled by an oral surgeon and has nothing to do with general dentistry.
Nearly every adult has four permanent adult teeth that are located at the very back corners of the mouth, two on top and two on the bottom. If those teeth do not grow as expected because they do not have room, they can become impacted wisdom teeth. This results in dental problems including infection and pain. They need to be extracted. An oral surgeon specializes in wisdom tooth removal so you can continue to enjoy great oral health.
Why Should You Have Your Wisdom Teeth Extracted?
Whether your wisdom teeth are impacted or not, it is a good idea to have them extracted so they do not become a future health problem. The third molars, or wisdom teeth, are the final permanent teeth that an adult will get. They typically come in around the ages of 17 to 25. Some people actually never get them. When they ‘erupt’ normally there are no problems.
A lot of times people tend to develop wisdom teeth that become impacted. This requires oral surgery because there is not enough room in the human mouth for their wisdom teeth to develop normally, or they may have only erupted partially. A wisdom tooth that becomes impacted could grow at an awkward angle next to the second molar, grow at awkward angle toward the back of your mouth, grow straight up like your other teeth but not stay within the jawbone, or it could grow at the precise correct angle.
Impacted teeth cause many complications and require wisdom tooth removal. A few of those problems can include debris and food being trapped behind a wisdom tooth, pain, gum disease or infection, tooth decay, damaged to the surrounding bone and nearby teeth, complications with orthodontic treatments and the development of cysts.
Wisdom Tooth Removal Can Prevent Other Dental Problems
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon can prevent future dental problems with wisdom tooth removal solutions. While it can be somewhat difficult to predict future dental problems in association with wisdom teeth, having them removed is a rational and preventative means. This is due to the fact that even symptom-free wisdom teeth can harbor disease. If there is not plenty of room for a wisdom tooth to erupt, it cannot be cleaned properly either. If you keep your wisdom teeth once getting them as a younger adult, you could experience difficulty with extraction before and after surgery the older you get.
A Waco Oral Surgeon Can Help
It is imperative that you know when to make an appointment with an oral surgeon to have your wisdom teeth examined and possibly schedule surgery. If you experience certain symptoms it is time to take action. Ignoring symptoms could lead to infection, serious complications or even nerve damage.
Watch for difficulty breathing or swallowing, fever, excessive bleeding, severe pain that cannot be relieved using prescribed medications for pain, swelling that only worsens within 2 to 3 days, pus that oozes from the socket, a bad taste that cannot be removed rinsing with saltwater, loss of feeling or persistent numbness as well as pus or blood in any nasal discharge. All of those signs indicate you could be dealing with impacted wisdom teeth. It is important that you do not try to home medicate or treat yourself in this case. Seek care from an oral surgeon at a Waco oral surgery center.