Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last teeth to erupt in the mouth. Patients typically have 1-4 of these late-blooming teeth.
For many patients, wisdom teeth grow incorrectly and end up impacted in the jawbone. If the mouth isn’t large enough for wisdom teeth to grow in the correct space, they can grow at the wrong angle. This can cause overcrowding, teeth shifting, infection, decay, and damage to surrounding teeth and gum tissue. Removal of these teeth is often recommended to prevent these dental problems. It’s much easier to prevent issues ahead of time than to fix the damage that might later occur from problematic wisdom teeth.
When to Remove Wisdom Teeth
Generally, wisdom teeth extractions are recommended for patients in their late teens and early twenties. Removing wisdom teeth around this age can help reduce the risk of complications and may lead to faster healing compared to having the procedure completed when you are older. Fortunately, modern oral surgery techniques and anesthesia have made tooth extractions, including wisdom teeth removal, a straightforward and fairly smooth process.
The best way to know when to get your wisdom teeth extracted is by maintaining regular dental visits so your dental team can monitor their growth. However, there are several warning signs that could prompt an evaluation sooner than your routine dental checkup. For example:
- Pain in the back of your mouth
- Chronically inflamed gums
- Bleeding gums
- Jaw pain and stiffness
- Frequent earaches
- Recurrent headaches
- Sinus issues
Tooth Extractions in North Carolina
Do you or does your teenager still have wisdom teeth? At Vista, our team can help you better understand when to get your wisdom teeth extracted. Please contact us to schedule an appointment at our office! We look forward to hearing from you.