With age comes wisdom, and in this case, wisdom teeth! A wisdom tooth is the tooth located at the very back of the dental arch. They usually emerge sometime between the ages of 17 and 25. Some people never get wisdom teeth, while others get one, two, three, or all four. The emergence of a wisdom tooth does not necessarily mean you need to seek dental care. If they remain hidden in the jawbone and cause no problems, no action is usually required. The same applies if there is ample space in the jaw for them to erupt and settle properly, but this is not always the case.
Symptoms from a Wisdom Tooth
A wisdom tooth does not always cause symptoms, but if it becomes infected, damages nearby teeth, or negatively affects the surrounding jawbone and gums, these symptoms may occur:
– Red or swollen gums
– Tender or bleeding gums
– Jaw pain
– Swelling around the jaw
– Bad breath
– An unpleasant taste in the mouth
– Difficulty opening the mouth
– Fever
When should I seek care for a wisdom tooth?
Care for a wisdom tooth that has not fully erupted or has developed abnormally should be sought as soon as any pain, swelling, or fever occurs. An untreated wisdom tooth causing problems can:
– Damage other teeth, which in turn can cause infections in the area. The pressure a wisdom tooth can exert on other teeth risks crowding them and leading to future alignment problems. This may then require some form of orthodontic treatment.
– Create cysts/blisters in the jawbone where the wisdom tooth originated.
– Cause tooth decay as it is harder to remove bacteria and food debris that may have become trapped between the gum and the wisdom tooth.
– Cause gum disease as it can be difficult to clean all areas around a crowded wisdom tooth.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to prevent a wisdom tooth from erupting. The best thing to do is to visit your dentist for regular cleanings and check-ups.
Wisdom Tooth Treatment
A wisdom tooth causing problems usually needs to be removed with or without surgery to prevent symptoms from worsening or other dental and oral problems from arising.
Wisdom teeth that cause no problems and either remain embedded in the jawbone or erupt correctly are called asymptomatic wisdom teeth. Even these wisdom teeth are sometimes recommended for removal, but not always. This is to prevent presumed future problems from occurring. This is because:
– Problems with wisdom teeth do not always necessarily arise in young adults but can appear later in life.
– The procedure for removing a wisdom tooth becomes increasingly risky the older one gets.
– Symptom-free wisdom teeth are not always free from disease.
– There is not always enough space for the wisdom tooth to erupt. This makes it difficult to access and clean them properly.
TandCity recommends that you always consult a dentist before deciding whether or not to remove your wisdom teeth. Call or email TandCity if you need advice or more information about wisdom teeth.
Contact TandCity for Your Dental Care
Contact us directly, or take a look around our website to learn more about our dental care and oral hygiene services. TandCity’s goal is to provide high-quality dental care at a reasonable price, without compromise, to everyone who needs and wants it.
“The text above is written for online marketing purposes. The opinions are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of TandCity.”
