Many young adults go through a routine procedure to get their wisdom teeth removed, with an estimated 10 million wisdom teeth removed from 5 million people a year. Sometimes, though, surgery is not necessary. You can trust Golden Smiles Dental in Rancho Cucamonga, CA to be able to provide you with the expertise and the care to help you decide if getting your wisdom teeth removed is the next best step for you and your oral care.

What makes Wisdom Teeth Wise?

Wisdom teeth are your third and final set of molars that typically emerge in the late teens and early twenties. If they can be properly aligned and healthy, these teeth can be a valuable addition to your mouth. However, it is more common for these teeth to not be aligned, and this can have disastrous effects for the rest of your mouth. They can come in horizontally, angled inward or outward, or tilted toward or away from your second molars. Any misalignment can cause crowding and even damage to adjacent teeth, your jawbone, or your nerves. Additionally, there stems another potential issue from when the wisdom teeth come in impacted or enclosed within the jawbone or the soft tissue in a way that only partially breaks through the gum line. This partial eruption creates a perfect venue for infectious bacteria to enter your teeth and grow, causing an infection. Because these partially-erupted teeth are hard to reach and hard to clean, they become the perfect avenue for future tooth decay to take hold.

Why should you get your wisdom teeth removed?

Dentists will make the decision to remove wisdom teeth when they begin to impact teeth around them, causing problems, or when an X-ray shows that there may be problems down the line. They will also consider other factors, such as age, position of the teeth, and shape of your mouth to project any potential issues. Many dentists will remove teeth that appear healthy now but may pose a threat to your oral health in the future. The longer you wait, the more difficult it becomes to remove a tooth. Despite current pain, consult with your dentist to see if removing your wisdom teeth is the right move for you. Other symptoms that could indicate the need to remove your wisdom teeth include:
  • Damage to the jaw. Cysts can form around the new wisdom teeth, and if left untreated for too long, can cause damage to the surrounding nerves and hollow out your jaw.
  • Inflammation of the Gums. The gum tissue surrounding the wisdom teeth can become sensitive and swell, which can to pain and a more difficult mouth to clean.
  • Sinus issues. Sinus pain, pressure and congestion can all arise as a result of the inflammation in the gums.
  • The real danger of unremoved wisdom teeth. The swelling caused by inflammation can create pockets in which bacteria can hide and create cavities.
Regular check ups can keep you one step ahead of tooth decay, and your dentist will be able to tell you if you need wisdom teeth removed. Make sure you keep to your schedule of routine check ups. Call (909) 481-8990 today to arrange your appointment at Golden Smiles Dental, in Rancho Cucamonga.