The extraction of wisdom teeth is one of the more common types of oral surgery.
The wisdom teeth are the third and last set of molars that you will get, usually when you’re in your late teens or early twenties.
If they’re healthy and properly aligned, they can actually be useful. But in most cases, they’re either misaligned or damaged, which is why they require extraction.
Wisdom teeth can be misaligned and be positioned at a very awkward angle. The top of the teeth may be facing inward or outward, or to either side. If your wisdom teeth are misaligned, they can crowd or damage other nearby teeth. They can also damage the nerves or the jawbone.
Your jaw may also not be big enough for your wisdom teeth. As a result, your wisdom tooth can be impacted. They may not be able to break through the gum and remain enclosed inside the jawbone or the soft tissue. Impacted teeth can damage your other teeth and bone. It’s also possible that a cyst may develop.
The wisdom teeth may also come only partway through the gum. That can result in a flap of gum tissue to grow over your wisdom teeth. That flap can trap germs and food bits, which can then read to an infection. Your gums may become swollen, red, and very painful. Your jaw may become stiff and your overall health may suffer.
Partially erupted wisdom teeth are also more likely to result in gum disease and tooth decay. Brushing and flossing the teeth can become more difficult, because the wisdom teeth are in a hard to reach area.
Consult us regarding your wisdom teeth and we can evaluate their alignment. We may recommend that your wisdom teeth be removed to avoid future problems.
If the wisdom tooth is fully erupted, the extraction is as simple as a regular tooth extraction. But if the wisdom tooth has not broken through the gums and is embedded in your jawbone, oral surgery may be required. An incision can be done into your gums, and some part of the bone that lies over the wisdom tooth may be removed. To find out more about Oral Surgery, please contact Coastal Smiles for more details.