Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last teeth to erupt in your mouth and are the teeth least needed for good oral health. Most people have four wisdom teeth that usually erupt through the gums in their late teens or early twenties. Sometimes wisdom teeth remain trapped in the jawbone under the gums due to impaction (see below) or because there is insufficient room for them to erupt.
There are a number of reasons why we often recommend removing wisdom teeth. They can cause gum disease, crowding or other damage to adjacent teeth, decay (due to the inability of your toothbrush to keep the area clean), and bone destroying cysts. Problems with wisdom teeth will often cause pain and swelling. Whether you have obvious symptoms or not, it is important to diagnose existing or potential problems caused by your wisdom teeth. Removal is often the wisest decision for your health and well-being.
Here are four conditions caused by wisdom teeth where they will likely (or definitely in some cases) need to be extracted:
- Horizontal Impaction - a severe condition that always requires extraction.
- Vertical Impaction - vertically impacted teeth may erupt. However, in many cases the process is painful and can damage and crowd adjacent teeth.
- Mesial Impaction - the most common condition requiring extraction.
- Distal Impaction - the wisdom tooth is angled back, towards the rear of the mouth.
We encourage you to schedule a appointment with Dr.Simon Melcher with Implant and General Dentistry in Raleigh, NC for a routine dental check-up, including an evaluation of your wisdom teeth: 919-782-0548.
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