Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to appear in your mouth. They don’t normally come along until adulthood. When they do come, there is a chance that they can be quite painful. When this happens, you may well need to make an appointment with your Paso Robles dentist and talk about having your wisdom teeth removed.
What Is A Wisdom Tooth?
Adult mouths have up to 32 teeth in them. While most teeth appear during childhood, the last teeth will not appear until you have finished growing. These are situated at the back of the mouth and are known as the wisdom teeth. They generally tend to start to come through between the ages of 17 and 25, although it is not unheard of for this to happen much later than this.
Some people have jaws that are too small to accommodate all 32 teeth, with 28 being all that many people have room for. If all of the other teeth in the mouth are there and are healthy, there may not be the space needed for the wisdom teeth to grow.
Having wisdom teeth coming through does not always mean that you will have a problem. For many people, wisdom teeth come through without any issue.
What Happens If Wisdom Teeth Cannot Come through?
If you do not have enough room for your wisdom teeth to come through, they may get stuck against the tooth next to it at an angle. This is referred to as an ‘impacted wisdom tooth’.
During the period where your tooth is trying to come through, there can be a build-up of bacteria that may cause infection or soreness. While this can be treated with antibiotics and mouthwash, and is a temporary problem, in some cases, where the problem reoccurs several times, you may need to have your wisdom teeth removed.
When Would A Dentist Remove Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth removal is not always necessary, however, if you are having pain or discomfort due to your wisdom teeth coming through, it is a good time to get a check-up with your dentist and they will be able to monitor the teeth coming through and advise accordingly.
If it is clear that your jaw is not going to be able to accommodate the additional teeth, then wisdom teeth removal may be suggested by your dentist.
If your wisdom teeth have partially come through, but have decayed due to the build-up of bacteria then wisdom teeth removal might be required.
Your dentist may also remove your wisdom teeth if they are causing considerable pain and discomfort for you.
Your dentist will be able to talk you through the procedure which is very routine. You will receive anesthetic so you will not feel the removal itself. After the procedure, you may feel some swelling, but as soon as the area is healed your mouth should feel more comfortable.
If you are looking for wisdom teeth removal, then get in touch with Paso Robles Dental Care today and arrange to make an appointment.
