Top Signs You May Need Your Wisdom Teeth Removed
Wisdom teeth, as the name implies, are the last set of teeth to develop and usually appear when a person is older. Wisdom teeth typically erupt between a person’s teen years and their mid to late twenties.
Most people’s wisdom teeth are fully developed by the age of 30. If they did not have them removed as a teenager, the conversation of having dental surgery becomes a dental health concern in young adulthood.
Common Signs Wisdom Teeth Should Be Extracted
The most common reason for people contacting our Newport Beach office for a wisdom tooth examination is pain. However, there are a few circumstances in which third molars should be extracted. In many of these cases, the explanations are related to the health of neighboring teeth rather than the individual integrity of the wisdom tooth under consideration.
Here are some of the most frequent reasons why you might want to talk to our Dr. Yazdan about wisdom tooth removal:
- Wisdom teeth that have become impacted and are pressing against their neighbors cause crowding throughout your mouth or harm to the adjacent tooth structure.
- Partially erupted wisdom teeth make cleaning difficult. These wisdom teeth are prone to tooth decay and gum disease.
- Periodontitis, or active tooth decay. Because of their susceptibility to re-infection, infected wisdom teeth are usually extracted rather than restored.
- Unpleasant swelling or pressure inside your mouth.
- If the wisdom tooth is impacted within the jaw or pressing against vital structures such as facial nerves, it should be extracted.
- Tumors or large cysts surrounding the tooth/teeth.
- To keep tooth movement from relapsing after orthodontic treatment.
- Inadequate mouth space, such as a small or thin jaw or overall tooth crowding.
To assess the location and development of your third molars, Dr. Yazdan will take a digital X-ray of your teeth and jaws during your exam. Most people have four in total, but it’s not uncommon for some people to be missing one or two wisdom teeth or to have extra smaller teeth next to them.
We’ll walk you through what we see so you can co-plan your care and potential oral surgery with us. The more you know about your specific oral health situation, the better equipped you’ll be to choose the optimal course for your smile’s future.
Signs of an Impacted Wisdom Tooth
A wisdom tooth that is impacted or partially impacted is lodged within the bone or against a neighboring tooth. The pressure can flare up at inconvenient times, causing a dull ache in the jaw. Mild redness or swelling of the face may also be present.
Temporary relief can be obtained by using over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or applying a cold compress. An impacted wisdom tooth, on the other hand, will need to be evaluated by our Orange County dentist in order to prevent further complications from continuing to develop in your otherwise healthy smile.
If it is impacted, it is physically impossible for a wisdom tooth to erupt into alignment with its neighbors. The majority of these situations will require oral surgery.
Symptoms of an Infected Wisdom Tooth
Infections of the wisdom teeth are not always apparent or painful. Symptoms may appear and disappear over the course of several weeks or months. Because food and plaque can slip just under the tissues and not be cleaned away with regular brushing and flossing, your tooth is at a higher risk of infection if it has partially erupted through the gums.
If Dr. Yazdan notices the following symptoms, your wisdom teeth may be infected:
- Cysts or tumors visible on your dental X-rays
- Swelling along the jawline or on the side of your face
- Redness or puffiness near the back of your mouth
- Bad breath (halitosis) or a bad taste in your mouth
- Active gum disease or tooth decay affecting the neighboring tooth
- Difficulty eating
- Discomfort that appears at random
Is Wisdom Tooth Extraction Painful?
Any oral surgery, including wisdom tooth extractions, can make you wonder how painful the procedure will be. Fortunately, our Newport Beach dentist uses the best anesthetic (numbing) agents, so you won’t feel much during your procedure. When combined with sedation dentistry, the experience can be just as relaxing as we would want for ourselves or a member of our own family.
Because impacted or infected wisdom teeth can cause pain and additional damage to neighboring teeth, having them removed proactively can help to avoid potential pain before symptoms arise.
Schedule Your Consultation
The only way to know for sure whether your wisdom teeth need to be removed is to visit Dr. Yazdan. At The Center for Restorative and Cosmetic Dentistry in Newport Beach in Orange County, CA, no referral is necessary. Simply schedule an evaluation today!
About Dr. Yazdan
