Don’t worry – you’re not alone! Most people believe it is a must to remove your wisdom teeth. They are removed because they cause you pain or grow so much that they misalign your other teeth, which can modify your jaw’s natural shape. Usually, if you have pain, this is your cue to consider wisdom teeth removal near you.
What are wisdom teeth?
These teeth are located at the back of your mouth – the third set of molars and often do not have enough space to develop like the rest of the teeth fully. Wisdom teeth appear in the adult stages of life, and they sometimes cause pain and damage to the rest of your teeth and other dental issues. Due to their hard-to-reach positions at the back of your mouth, you will be less efficient and effective at cleaning them. Thus they decay more quickly than other teeth and can cause gum diseases because of improper hygiene. Due to their predisposition to many dental issues, most dental professionals will recommend you seek tooth extraction near you to avoid issues in the future.
How do I know if I have to extract them?
As we mentioned, wisdom teeth sometimes do not cause many problems for some people—they are much harder to clean, which soon leads to many dental issues. However, these are some common symptoms patients should look out for:
- Bad breath
- Jaw pain
- Swollen/red gums
- Sensitive gums or bleeding
- Unpleasant taste
- Difficulty opening your mouth
If you experience these symptoms, visit our dentist in West Edmonton as soon as possible to avoid further complications.
Why do these symptoms appear?
Third molars (wisdom teeth) appear at the back of your mouth, and often they do not have enough space to erupt (appear) fully. They can appear somewhere between 17 and 25 years of age, and once they start to appear, you might experience pain because there is insufficient space for them to develop. These are some common developments if there is not enough space:
- The wisdom tooth can grow towards the back of the mouth.
- The wisdom tooth can grow towards the other tooth (second molar).
- The wisdom tooth can grow parallel to the jawbone (as though it lays down).
- The wisdom tooth can still grow but is trapped in the jawbone.
What happens if I don’t get treatment?
If you do not visit our dental clinic near you once you experience these symptoms, they can become more complicated. Consequences are:
- Damage to other teeth by pushing into them; the pressure might misalign your teeth, causing you to straighten them through orthodontic treatments.
- Cause cysts if the sac where the tooth is located within the jawbone fills up with liquid, which can deteriorate the jawbone, your nerves and teeth.
- Lead to tooth decay and cavities because they are difficult to clean, and food will get stuck easier between the gum and the tooth, often if the tooth partially erupts.
- Lead to gum disease.
Final thoughts
Your wisdom teeth will cause you pain when you already have some dental problems emerging. The best thing to do is to check with our dental clinic near you as soon as possible to avoid further complications, such as tooth decay, cavities, and gum diseases affecting your entire mouth. Whether it is painful or not, maintaining regular visits with our dental clinic will spare you pain and money in the long term.