Do I Need My Wisdom Teeth Removed?
October 27, 2020 8:03 pmA patient can have anywhere from zero to four wisdom teeth, the third set of molars that usually emerge between the ages of 17 and 26 years old. Unfortunately, these teeth sometimes come in crooked, don’t have enough space, crowd and damage neighboring teeth, or get stuck under the gums. In these cases, you may need to have these late-blooming teeth removed.
In this blog post, we elaborate on a few common reasons why wisdom teeth are removed.
- Difficult Oral Hygiene
- Partial Eruption
- Impaction
- Overcrowding
If wisdom teeth come in crooked and are very far back in your mouth, the teeth and gums can be very difficult to keep clean of bacteria and food debris. This increases your risk of decay, cavities, infection, gum disease, and subsequent loss of your jawbone density and neighboring teeth.
Sometimes, a wisdom tooth only partially erupts through your gums. If it doesn’t finish emerging, the gums become prone to plaque buildup and inflammation. This can lead to a infection and pain.
Some wisdom teeth do not emerge through the gums at all. They may not have enough space to grow, so they remain underneath your gums or grow into the roots of neighboring teeth. An impacted wisdom tooth can result in pain and damage to your neighboring teeth.
When a patient’s mouth is too small for third molars that emerge at the back of their mouth, their teeth become crowded. This can result in shifting, misalignment, difficult oral hygiene, and an increased risk of dental disease.
Wisdom Teeth Removal Consultation in Harrisonburg, VA
Contact our team at Rockingham Prosthodontics to determine if wisdom tooth removal is right for you or your child. We’ll take X-rays and perform a clinical examination of your oral cavity to assess the development of your third molars.
During your consultation, we can also discuss our affordable payment options and your dental sedation optons, which are designed to keep you relaxed and comfortable throughout your procedure.
