Many adult dental patients need to have their wisdom teeth removed in order to maintain oral health. Our Glendale dentists are here to explain why this is the case, and how you can get a better idea of what you might need to do about your wisdom teeth.
So the number one problem with wisdom teeth is that most patients do not have enough room for these teeth in their mouths. Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars; they usually start to push through when a patient is in his or her early twenties.
Because most patients do not have enough room for these teeth to fully emerge, wisdom teeth can actually damage your existing smile:
Partially emerged wisdom teeth are very difficult to keep clean. It is hard for patients to effectively floss and brush those hard-to-reach spaces in the back of their mouths. As you’d imagine this leaves the patient susceptible to dental cavities and gum disease. Plus, as bacteria become entrenched in your mouth, you’ll likely start to suffer from chronic bad breath.
Wisdom teeth also tend to come in at odd angles. Your wisdom teeth might tilt toward the front or the back of your jaw. These teeth may also come in sidewise, so that they are actually putting pressure on adjacent teeth. This not only leads to pain and discomfort; it can also cause your existing smile to become crowded and misaligned.
Wisdom tooth extraction can help you avoid these structural and health problems. Our Glendale dentists will be able to assess your smile, and give you an idea of how your wisdom teeth are emerging. If you notice that you are feeling a sensation of tightness or pressure in the back of your mouth, talk to your dental team about whether this might be wisdom-tooth-related.
Our dental team is happy to answer any questions that you may have, so please call us to learn more!