Pleasanton Dentist - Should I have my Wisdom Teeth Pulled? - Smiles by Design in Livermore

The wisdom teeth or the third molars erupt at the age of 17 to 21 years. If there is sufficient space, the teeth can erupt normally into the mouth and take its place beside the second molars. Sometimes, however, even when there is enough space and especially when the space is compromised, the teeth will not be able to erupt completely, and it will assume a different position. Depending on its position, the wisdom tooth can exhibit some pain symptom. Some of the symptoms will involve tenderness to touch, swelling and bleeding gums, jaw pain, pressure on the ears, tinnitus or ringing in the ears, heavy feeling on the jaw and pain around the area of the second and third molars.

Depending on the symptoms presented, as well as the position and the condition of the tooth in the mouth, a surgical removal will be indicated. This surgical removal of  impacted wisdom teeth is termed  Odontectomy, and compared to normal extraction procedures which basically involves the mere loosening of the teeth from fiber and bone attachment, Odontectomy is so much more complicated. It involves gum incision and flap reflection, bone reduction, toothsectioning and suturing.

Not all wisdom teeth have to be removed. As discussed earlier, some teeth erupt normally beside the second molar, and these teeth do not have to be bothered, Teeth that present with symptoms have to be removed, but the question here is: what about wisdom teeth that seem to be causing no problem to the patient, at all? Well, you should know that the absence of pain symptoms does not mean you are safe because:

• Based on the position the wisdom tooth takes in the mouth, it can slowly cause damage to the structures and the tooth (or teeth) beside it.
• The constant pressure that the wisdom tooth is putting on the rest of the teeth in the mouth, is causing some displacement and movement, and so crowding the teeth on the anterior.
• A tooth or teeth that is allowed to stay under the mouth for long may develop an infection that can become cystic, thus eating bone and causing an even bigger problem.

Should you have you wisdom tooth pulled? If this tooth did not erupt normally into the mouth, it is going to be safer and smarter for you to do so, because always remember: “prevention is better than cure”.

source: http://www.teethcenter.com/should-i-have-my-wisdom-teeth-pulled/
by Teeth Center Staff


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