Nobody looks forward to a tooth extraction. But the simple fact of the matter is that all dental extractions, and wisdom tooth extractions in particular, are a necessary procedure that is only done to correct existing problems or to prevent problems that may come up in the future.
When wisdom teeth come in, a person’s jaw may not be large enough to hold them in place properly. In these situations, wisdom teeth may become impacted and not able to break through a person’s gums.
In instances where the wisdom tooth does break through the gum surface, it may only break part way, leaving a flap of gum tissue. In many cases, food and bacteria can get caught under the flap resulting in red, swollen and painful gums which can be the first signs of infection.
More serious conditions may ensue; including full-blown infections, permanent damage to surrounding teeth, gums and jaw, or the formation of a cyst.
Proactively removing wisdom teeth will prevent overcrowding in the jaw’s limited space and the shifting of the rest of the teeth.
Because most problems with wisdom teeth develop between the ages of 15 and 25, younger patients are more likely to be candidates for wisdom tooth extractions. The good news is that because wisdom teeth roots are not fully developed at this age, the surgery is less complicated than surgery for older patients. That leads to a quicker recovery time with fewer complications.
Douglas Family Dentistryserves families in Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Glendale and surrounding Arizona communities.