You may have heard talks about the horror stories concerning wisdom tooth removals at some point in your life. Many dentists recommend having them removed during a patient’s adolescent years to recover easier. However, not everyone needs to undergo wisdom tooth removal. To know this for sure, you need to understand what condition your teeth are in and your potential treatment options.
What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth, or your third molars, usually present themselves when a person is in their teenage years between 17 and 21 years old. These teeth are behind your second molars, on the farthest corner of your mouth. They allow you to have a full set of 32 adult teeth, but most people don’t need all 32 to live and function normally. This is because wisdom teeth are no longer necessary for modern humans.
Wisdom teeth’s main function is to break down and crush hard food found in the wilderness from nuts, meat, and other forms of raw materials. They were necessary for our ancestor’s survival, but not so much anymore after these people discovered cooking. Since humans now eat softer food items and have effective utensils to break them down into pieces, people have outgrown the evolutionary need for wisdom teeth.
Why should people get their wisdom teeth removed?
Besides outgrowing the need for having wisdom teeth, keeping them can lead to various oral health problems. Like any tooth, third molars can come out differently based on your teeth or jaw’s alignment. For most people, wisdom teeth are impacted and grow horizontally, causing it to push the rest of your teeth as it grows. This leads to an excruciating amount of pain, requiring immediate removal.
Since third molars aren’t naturally important for modern humans, your mouth may not have enough space to accommodate it. Because of this, you can develop jaw pain from its misalignment. Although it may not be painful at first, having a misaligned jaw can lead to numerous oral care complications in the long-term.
An extra set of molars can ruin your teeth’s alignment, causing years of work from your braces to go to waste. Additionally, jaw damage can lead to cysts that can deteriorate your bones, roots, and nerves. They can progress to the point of turning into a tumor, which will require surgery for removal. Lastly, you can be more prone to cavities and gum diseases since cleaning your teeth will be harder to manage.
How do I need to know if I need wisdom teeth removal?
The best way to diagnose your condition is to pre-empt its removal if it’s necessary. Your dentist will examine your mouth with an x-ray to check to notice any signs of growth. It will reveal if they are growing in the wrong way or if you’ll need to remove them at all. Sometimes, adults can keep and maintain wisdom teeth that grow perfectly healthy, or they may not be present at all.
Conclusion
Remember to seek the right treatment from a dental professional when undergoing these complicated dental care procedures. Thankfully, wisdom tooth removal can take just one session, even if you have multiple wisdom teeth. This is why it’s best to consult with your dentist immediately once you start noticing symptoms. Doing so will allow you to avoid any issues with the rest of your teeth and jaw. The sooner you get a clear diagnosis for your teeth’s condition, the less damage you’ll experience to your oral health.
If you need a dental check up in Milton Keynes, schedule a visit to our clinic today!