Not everyone knows exactly what to do when their wisdom teeth are growing in. For some people, the development of third molars can cause immediate problems, becoming impacted and causing severe levels of discomfort. For others, the problems aren’t immediately apparent, and they may wonder if extracting them is really a good idea. At our El Paso, TX, dentist’s office, we can help you determine the best course of action when your wisdom teeth are growing in, or if they’ve already grown in and are starting to cause trouble.
Why it matters to most people
Third molars are called such because they’re the third set of permanent molars to develop along your dental ridges. Often, there is little room left at the end of your dental ridges after the second molars have erupted, which means wisdom teeth don’t always have enough space to develop properly. This can cause the third molars to become impacted by the molars already present, forcing them to change position within the jawbone and push against neighboring teeth. The discomfort from this impaction can grow increasingly more severe until the wisdom teeth are extracted.
What could happen if they stay impacted?
When wisdom teeth are forced out of proper alignment and direction during their development, they can cause damage to the jawbone that supports them as well as the molars that impede their development. If third molars continue to force themselves against nearby teeth, they can change your overall tooth alignment and the proper balance of your bite, leading to a host of more serious issues with your long-term oral health. In many cases, however, the pain of impacted wisdom teeth forces patients to seek treatment and the extraction of their third molars as soon as possible.
Your best solution is to extract them
Unlike other common dental concerns, such as tooth decay or damage, there is typically no treatment to restore your wisdom teeth once they’ve become impacted. Instead, the only solution is to extract them to remove the pressure against your other teeth and the obstruction within your jawbone. Because impacted wisdom teeth don’t fully erupt from the gum line, extracting them may require minor surgery, during which your dentist can fully expose all of the tooth’s structure to successfully remove it.
Stop your wisdom teeth from causing problems
Your wisdom teeth growing in isn’t always a precursor to trouble, but when it is, extracting them is the best thing you can do for your smile. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling the Sunny Smiles dental office nearest you in El Paso, TX, today! We also have offices in Chaparral, Canutillo, and Vinton so we can easily serve patients throughout all surrounding communities.