Your wisdom teeth or third molars often are thought of as unnecessary. In fact, they frequently are thought to be more of a hindrance than a help. The following information reveals why this is so.
The Function of the Wisdom Teeth
You really do not need your wisdom teeth or back molars. You can easily maintain your dental health without them. We often recommend that they be extracted, as they can be hard to clean, can affect the positioning of the other teeth, and can lead to unwanted dental infections.
Contact Us If Your Wisdom Teeth Have Emerged
If you notice that your wisdom teeth are pushing through the gums, contact our dental team for an appointment. We will need to take x-rays of the teeth to see how they are coming in and if they may affect the other teeth. You should also schedule regular dental exams every six months. Doing so will allow us to find out if your wisdom teeth are impacted, how they are positioned inside the gum.
Scheduling a Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Once you notice your wisdom teeth emerging, again, give us a call so that we can conduct a further examination. Taking out the wisdom teeth is usually advised to prevent future dental problems with decay, tooth pain, jaw pain, infections, or bleeding. On the day of the surgery, you will need to have someone drive you home. Usually, the recovery period lasts about seven days.
Your wisdom teeth usually will emerge between 17 and 21 years of age. Whether you have had them a while or you anticipate that they will soon come in, give us a call. Usually, removing the teeth will improve your dental health and ensure against future dental problems. Give us a call today for a dental exam and consultation.
