Wisdom teeth are late bloomers, often only breaking the gums when people are in their late teens to mid twenties. It’s because of this late development that they get their name, as they don’t emerge until people have “come of age”. But is wisdom tooth removal really that scary?
The Problem With Wisdom Teeth
While some people never experience any issues with their wisdom teeth, for many their mouth is just too small and crowded to accommodate them. This can disrupt the adjacent teeth, potentially putting them out of alignment. At the very least people might develop a habit of biting the insides of their cheeks when they chew because these last molars are so close to the flesh.
A second issue is wisdom teeth, being so far back, may not always get as thorough a clean as the rest of your teeth. This will ultimately lead to a build up of plaque and possible tooth decay or gum infection. This is especially true if the teeth have only partially erupted.
One of the more common wisdom tooth issues is having an impacted wisdom tooth, where the tooth has failed to fully develop and break through the gum as a normal tooth would. Impacted wisdom teeth can result in great pain and discomfort and often require surgery to remove.
Infections are a common problem with wisdom teeth, a problem that is generally resolved by removing the teeth. Some symptoms of wisdom tooth infection include:
- Swelling
- Pain
- Fever
- Inflamed gums
- Pus secretions from gum line
- Sore glands
- Difficulty opening the mouth
If you are experiencing any of the above wisdom tooth complications, then it’s best to consult with your dentist as soon as possible so a solution can be actioned.
Is the Removal Process Really That Scary?
In most cases, not at all. Wisdom teeth that have fully erupted can generally be removed quite easily if they have straight roots, causing no more drama than extracting any of the other molars.
The process only becomes more complicated in the cases of an impacted wisdom tooth, or a tooth where the root has a hook or there is limited space for removal. Your dentist will take X-rays of your teeth to determine the extent of your wisdom teeth issues.
If removal is fairly straightforward, then the procedure can be performed under local anaesthetic in the dentist chair. However, for more complex wisdom tooth removal, sometimes it’s necessary to visit the operating theatre and go under a general anaesthetic. This is hardly a scary procedure either, as the patient is fully under throughout the entire process.
Advanced Dental Care Clinic
Based in Oxenford on the Gold Coast, Dr Ruth Parrag at Advanced Dental Care Clinic offers the very best advice and care when it comes to issues with wisdom teeth. Don’t put up with pain and discomfort. Book an appointment today. We have special interests in the following dental care treatments:
- Orthodontics
- Laser whitening
- Dentures
- Dental Implants
- Fast Braces – new product
- Emergency dentist care
