At the Dental Centre of Conroe, we understand that tooth extraction can be a daunting idea. While you should never resign yourself to living with any teeth that cause you pain and might possibly need extraction or other forms of restorative dentistry, there is a set of teeth that, in most people’s mouths, are extracted often: wisdom teeth. In today’s blog, your Conroe, TX, dentist will share some facts about wisdom teeth extraction, and why you don’t need to be afraid of having your teeth extracted in our office.
Do You Really Need Your Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are so called because they usually break through the surface of your gums when you are between the ages of 17 and 24, much older and “wiser” than most of your other teeth. As you can probably guess, wisdom teeth are meant to help you chew. However, there are several issues that can occur when your wisdom teeth begin (or don’t begin) to surface, leading to the need for extraction.
Reasons You Should Have Your Wisdom Teeth Extracted
When you enter your late teens, your dentist will begin to monitor your wisdom teeth using x-rays to check on their positioning and development. As you get older, your dentist will also likely ask questions to gauge your symptoms, if any, that relate to your wisdom teeth coming in improperly, such as:
- Pain
- Infection
- Cysts
- Damage to the surrounding teeth
- Tumors
- Gum disease or gingivitis
- Tooth decay
If you are experiencing pain, or if your dentist discovers any of the above issues having to do with the emergence of your wisdom teeth, you may need to have them extracted.
Your Mouth May Become Overcrowded
Commonly, your dentist may also find that your wisdom teeth coming in would overcrowd your mouth, causing your other teeth to shift and become uneven. In some cases, wisdom teeth removal may be recommended as a part of a treatment such as braces or Invisalign to ensure that your teeth have room to straighten out and don’t shift back after treatment because of your wisdom teeth.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
An impacted wisdom tooth is one that cannot surface. This can lead to cysts and the shifting of your teeth, as well as the pain that comes with those issues. There are also cases in which wisdom teeth emerge only partially, which gives food a place to hide, as the tooth is hard to brush and floss around, and gives bacteria a convenient place to enter your gums and cause infection and swelling. If these issues occur with any of your wisdom teeth, you will likely be recommended extraction as a treatment.
How We Handle It
In our office, we are committed to your comfort and want you to feel good about making the right decisions for your dental health. If you come to our office for wisdom teeth extraction, you can expect a friendly, comfortable atmosphere that will set you at ease. We also offer sedation dentistry options to keep you in the most relaxed state possible during your treatment, so that you don’t need to worry about the process. If you have any questions about the process or your best options for wisdom teeth removal, we will work with you to find the right solutions.
We Are Here For You
If you still have your wisdom teeth and have questions about extraction, contact the Dental Centre of Conroe to schedule a consultation by calling (936) 441-4600. We serve patients from Conroe, TX, and the neighboring communities.
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