With a name like “wisdom teeth,” you might expect your third and final set of adult molars to be something to look forward to. Unfortunately, for many people, they’re not. The last four teeth to erupt on your dental ridges bring the average total of permanent teeth to 32. The problem with wisdom teeth, however, is that the average adult dental mouth can only comfortably accommodate 28 teeth. The discrepancy proves troublesome for many patients, who eventually have their wisdom teeth removed due to complications.
Are Your Wisdom Teeth Giving You Trouble?
Not everyone requires wisdom tooth extraction. Some people never grow more than 28 teeth, while others can accommodate all 32 without any problems. If your wisdom teeth erupt comfortably, you may not have to remove them, though in some cases, wisdom tooth extraction is preferable to avoid issues in the future.
The Point of Removing Wisdom Teeth
Because of the limited space on your dental ridges, wisdom teeth can become impeded by the molars already present. The blockage won’t stop wisdom teeth from growing. As they continue to try and erupt, the third molars can force teeth that are in their way out of alignment, potentially causing severe tooth pain and discomfort. Impacted wisdom teeth are classified by how they become impacted, and can either fail to grow or not grow completely through the gum line.
If You Leave a Wisdom Tooth Impacted
When your third molars fail to mature properly, extracting them is about more than relieving the discomfort. A wisdom tooth that only partially erupts from the gum line is at an increased risk of developing a serious dental disease. If the gum tissue doesn’t seal around the tooth’s root correctly, bacteria can gather underneath the tissue and lead to destructive gum disease. If other teeth suffer damage from the intrusion, then they may become severely infected and require an extraction, as well.
Learn More About Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Even if your wisdom teeth aren’t giving you problems yet, you may want to extract them before they have the chance to. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling the Sunny Smiles dental office nearest you in El Paso, TX, today! We have offices in the East, Northeast, and Westside of El Paso, and happily welcome patients from all nearby communities, including Chaparral, Canutillo, Vinton, and Sunland Park, New Mexico.