Your
Wisdom Teeth Explained
Wisdom teeth are a valuable part of your mouth when they are healthy
and in their proper position. However, problems can sometimes develop
that require their immediate removal.
When your jaw isn't large enough to accommodate wisdom teeth, they can
become impacted (unable to properly come in or are misaligned). Wisdom
teeth can grow sideways, emerge only part of the way from the gum or
even remain trapped beneath your gum and bone. The removal of wisdom
teeth is advised when:
- Wisdom teeth
only partially erupt. This creates an opening for bacteria to enter
around your tooth and cause an infection. You may experience pain,
swelling or illness at this point.
- A cyst forms,
harming other bone or tooth roots.
Patients should ask
the dentist about the health and positioning of their wisdom teeth. The
dentist may make a recommendation for removal or send the patient to an
oral surgeon for further evaluation.
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