Is it really necessary to remove the wisdom teeth? When a dentist recommends this procedure, the wisdom teeth may not have been causing any pain. However, they will cause problems in the future.
What is a Wisdom Tooth?
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt, usually between the ages of 17 and 21. Wisdom teeth are just as useful as any other teeth, provided that they grow in correctly. The four wisdom teeth are located in the very back, top and bottom.
When is an Impacted Wisdom Tooth a Problem?
Many people have at least one wisdom tooth that did not grow in as it should. It becomes “impacted,” growing in at an angle and only partially emerging through the gum. In a case of severe impaction, the tooth grows horizontally.
An impacted wisdom tooth can cause several problems.
- Because the impacted tooth is at the very back, it is hard to clean. When the tooth has only partially emerged from the gums, this area is prone to collect the bacteria that are responsible for gum disease and oral infection. These gum infections can be painful.
- Cavities can develop more quickly in this hard-to-clean area.
- Because the wisdom tooth is not straight, it crowds the other teeth, putting pressure on them.
Wisdom Tooth Removal in Wichita KS
Wisdom Tooth Removal in Wichita KS is usually performed when a person is in their later teens or early twenties, although earlier may be recommended. This is the best time because the roots of the wisdom tooth are not yet fully formed, and the bone that surrounds the tooth is less dense than it will be later. This makes the extraction easier and the recovery time much shorter.
The area needs to be numbed, and the patient may need sedation. In some cases, the tooth will be “sectioned” and removed in pieces in order to minimize the amount of bone that will be removed with the tooth. Healing time varies with each patient, but younger people usually heal faster than adults because the removal is easier.
Michail Iseman, DDS, a Board Certified Specialist, is known as “Dr. Mike” to his young patients at Wichita Pediatric Dentistry. As a father of five, he loves and understands the needs of children and is committed to ensuring the dental health of his young patients. Click here to schedule an appointment for your child with Dr. Mike.