For most individuals, wisdom teeth extraction is an
inevitable part of growing older. In addition to causing discomfort, untreated
wisdom teeth can lead to a number of consequences for your oral health.
Consider the following:
Wisdom teeth are the
last to develop. The third molars typically don’t begin developing until a
patient is in their mid to late teens. By the time these teeth are ready to
emerge, many patients have already undergone dental treatments with
orthodontics to permanently improve the alignment of their smiles. As a result,
there is often not enough room in the arch to support another molar. Lack of
space can cause wisdom teeth to become impacted and begin pushing against neighboring
teeth, thereby threatening the alignment.
Partial emergence can
make it difficult to maintain an effective oral hygiene routine. In some
scenarios, wisdom teeth may be able to partially break through the gums. This
partial emergence can cause gum tissue to grow over the tooth, trapping food
and debris between the tooth and gums. Patients experiencing partial emergence
have a more difficult time thoroughly cleaning their teeth and may be at a
higher risk of developing gum disease and cavities.
Complete emergence
can also compromise a patient’s oral health. While patients may not have to
worry about caring for trapped teeth with complete emergence, third molars may
develop too far back or cause overcrowding. This also makes it difficult for
patients to maintain an effective oral hygiene routine, increasing the
likelihood of developing periodontitis and tooth decay.
Impactions can become
infected. Wisdom teeth impaction occurs when, due to lack of space in an arch,
the molar is unable to break through the gum. The tooth may then become stuck
in the jaw. In severe cases, the area around the wisdom tooth may form a cyst
within the jaw. If left untreated, the cyst can compromise the health of the
bone as well as damage neighboring teeth and nerves.
Prompt wisdom tooth removal is often the best solution for
protecting the health and function of a patient’s smile. At Elite Dental of Fountain Valley, our team offers specialized wisdom teeth extraction for
impacted teeth. For more information about simple or complex wisdom teeth extraction,
contact our Fountain Valley dentist today.
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