You brush and floss. You take care of your teeth, but for some reason your jaw hurts. In fact, it’s throbbing. You pay a visit to your Dentist to see what’s wrong and that is when you discover your pain is due to a wisdom tooth.
Your Dentist recommends surgery to remove it, but what should you do?
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are otherwise known as your third molars and are located at the very back of your upper and lower jaw. They get their name because they often appear in your late teens to early twenties – old enough when you’ve gained some experience and “wisdom”. However, not everyone gets wisdom teeth and some people are born without them.
Why do they cause problems?
Wisdom teeth tend to be problematic if they cannot grow out properly. A wisdom tooth is “impacted” if it gets stuck in your gums and is unable to reach its normal position. Impacted wisdom teeth can be painful and cause problems with chewing, swollen gums, infection and also damage neighbouring teeth.
It is possible for wisdom teeth to be partially impacted. Meaning the tooth has broken through the games. Partially impacted wisdom teeth can cause cavities and gum disease because they become more difficult to clean.
When should Wisdom Teeth be removed?
It is best to have impacted wisdom teeth extracted between the ages of 16 – 20 years of age. The reason is they are easier to remove because your bones and roots are still soft and developing. As you age, the bones surrounding your teeth harden, making them more difficult to remove and also making surgery more risky.
Risks with having Wisdom Teeth removed:
Like any surgery, there are always risks. After your wisdom teeth are removed you may experience:
What are your options?
Realize that not all wisdom teeth need to be removed. Some people have enough room in their jaw for wisdom teeth to grow. If impacted wisdom teeth aren’t causing you problems, there’s no reason why you “have to” have them removed. But also keep in mind that not all wisdom teeth cause pain and you may not even realize you have them. That is why it’s important to see your Dentist regularly so he/she can examine you and check for potential problems.
Dr Paulo Pinho and his team of dental professionals at Widsom Teeth Professionals Sydney are experienced with dealing with a wide variety of teeth problems and have extensive training in oral surgery, including the removal of wisdom teeth.
Dr Pinho also has developed a great protocol to prevent and treat dry sockets. To learn more, call Dr Paulo Pinho at Wisdom Teeth Professionals in Sydney on 1300 217 858.
The information contained in this article is intended to give you general information and it is not intended to replace professional medical advice.
Your Dentist recommends surgery to remove it, but what should you do?
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are otherwise known as your third molars and are located at the very back of your upper and lower jaw. They get their name because they often appear in your late teens to early twenties – old enough when you’ve gained some experience and “wisdom”. However, not everyone gets wisdom teeth and some people are born without them.
Why do they cause problems?
Wisdom teeth tend to be problematic if they cannot grow out properly. A wisdom tooth is “impacted” if it gets stuck in your gums and is unable to reach its normal position. Impacted wisdom teeth can be painful and cause problems with chewing, swollen gums, infection and also damage neighbouring teeth.
It is possible for wisdom teeth to be partially impacted. Meaning the tooth has broken through the games. Partially impacted wisdom teeth can cause cavities and gum disease because they become more difficult to clean.
When should Wisdom Teeth be removed?
It is best to have impacted wisdom teeth extracted between the ages of 16 – 20 years of age. The reason is they are easier to remove because your bones and roots are still soft and developing. As you age, the bones surrounding your teeth harden, making them more difficult to remove and also making surgery more risky.
Risks with having Wisdom Teeth removed:
Like any surgery, there are always risks. After your wisdom teeth are removed you may experience:
- Pain and swelling at the extraction site
- Bleeding that may last up to 24hours
- Difficulty opening and closing your mouth
- Dry socket, which causes discomfort and happens when one of the blood clots in the open tooth socket becomes dislodged
What are your options?
Realize that not all wisdom teeth need to be removed. Some people have enough room in their jaw for wisdom teeth to grow. If impacted wisdom teeth aren’t causing you problems, there’s no reason why you “have to” have them removed. But also keep in mind that not all wisdom teeth cause pain and you may not even realize you have them. That is why it’s important to see your Dentist regularly so he/she can examine you and check for potential problems.
Dr Paulo Pinho and his team of dental professionals at Widsom Teeth Professionals Sydney are experienced with dealing with a wide variety of teeth problems and have extensive training in oral surgery, including the removal of wisdom teeth.
Dr Pinho also has developed a great protocol to prevent and treat dry sockets. To learn more, call Dr Paulo Pinho at Wisdom Teeth Professionals in Sydney on 1300 217 858.
The information contained in this article is intended to give you general information and it is not intended to replace professional medical advice.
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