Wisdom teeth are the last set of our teeth to grow in. They usually appear in the mouth between the ages of 17 to 21. Many people are under the impression all wisdom teeth need to be removed. That is not always the case, if wisdom teeth grow normally and there is enough room for them to fully erupt, there is little need to remove them. However, there are many different reasons why removal would be indicated. There are the signs and symptoms to look out for.
This is usually a first indication of an early infection. It could be due to an erupting wisdom tooth. It is best to seek a professional dental opinion. If left unattended, it could develop into a facial swelling.
Patients often complain that they cannot open their mouth fully, or they cannot bite down and touch their teeth together when a lower wisdom tooth is infected. Again, it means urgent treatment is required to prevent this developing into an abscess.
As wisdom teeth come into your mouth, they may put pressure on other teeth, worsening crowding of the front teeth. Their removal is often recommended by orthodontist at the end of treatment.
Some people do not have enough room for wisdom teeth to grow properly. Impacted wisdom teeth can grow at an angle or horizontally (rather than vertically as they are supposed to). This can be often detected by your dentist at regular check-up’s or sometimes on routine x-rays.
Wisdom teeth at the back of the mouth are much harder for patients to keep clean. Often, they develop cavities or deep pockets.
Dentists will suggest wisdom teeth removal only if there are reasonable indications to do so. If in doubt, please ring us on 0395237530 so we can assess them properly and recommend the best treatment option for you.
