Signs & Symptoms of Problematic Wisdom Teeth

We always hear about the importance of maintaining a proper and diligent dental care routine if we want to prevent complications and the need for premature tooth extraction, dentures and implants. But there are various other factors at play and these things can simply be beyond our control whatever we do. Case in point: wisdom teeth. 

Wisdom teeth can grow at an angle and cause problems like overcrowding and pressure on the jawbone, gum tissue and surrounding healthy teeth. If you wan to prevent wisdom teeth problems from escalating, their timely removal may be your best course of action.

It is therefore vital that patients, especially teenagers, visit specialists to discuss the health of their wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth complications are common, which is why wisdom teeth removal in Temecula, CA is one of the most common forms of dental surgery. So what are the signs and symptoms of problematic wisdom teeth?

What age do you get wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth or third molars are the last set of permanent teeth to grow. The majority of people experiences wisdom teeth growth between the ages of 17 and 25, with complications such as partial eruption or failure to erupt being extremely common around the age of 20. For some patients, wisdom teeth eruption may not happen until the age of 30. In rare cases, patients may not experience wisdom teeth growth until they have reached their 40s or even 50s.

Why do wisdom teeth come late?

Although wisdom teeth start forming around the age of 10, they normally erupt between the ages of 17 and 25. This last set of permanent teeth comes so late primarily because it takes as much time for your jaw to develop and become large enough to accommodate them. However, this third set of molars has become obsolete due to the effect of evolution, as we now have considerably smaller jaws than our ancestors used to have.

Do everyone gets wisdom teeth?

Not everyone gets wisdom teeth, and scientists assume that this is the result of the natural course of evolution. For those of us who do develop wisdom teeth, there is a high risk that there will be insufficient room for growth, which may lead to a whole host of problems and potential long-term complications: 

• Wisdom teeth may become impacted, which means they remain completely or partially buried in the gums. Trapped within the gums, impacted wisdom teeth may cause infections or cysts and cause extensive damage to the surrounding tooth roots and bone structure. 
• If wisdom teeth emerge partially through the gums, they can create a hard-to-access passageway for bacteria and increase your risk of developing gum disease and infections. 
• If wisdom teeth do erupt, they may do so at odd angles, even horizontally. This often leads to the crowding of the other teeth, particularly the nearby ones, which causes irreversible damage to otherwise healthy teeth, gum tissue and bone structure.

This is why the leading oral surgeons are adamant about the importance of screening wisdom teeth in a timely manner. The screening usually consists of an initial examination combined with x-rays. Wisdom teeth which have failed to fully emerge or which have emerged fully but may cause damage to the surrounding healthy tissue or disrupt biting and chewing function may need to be removed. 

The sooner the teeth are taken out, the better, as younger patients tend to experience rapid recovery. Your oral surgeon may even recommend wisdom teeth removal as a preventative measure, for the purpose of preventing complications, even if they currently cause no issues and have no impact on your oral health.

What are the usual signs and symptoms of wisdom teeth growth?

According to the guidelines adopted and recommended by the American Dental Association, the following changes may indicate the need to have wisdom teeth removed:

• Acute or chronic pain
• Repeated soft tissue infection in the wisdom tooth area
• Cysts
• Tumors
• Damage to nearby teeth
• Gum disease
• Extensive tooth decay

Whether wisdom teeth removal is a necessary course of action depends on the circumstances of your situation. The decision to proceed with the procedure is not always easy or straightforward, which is why your best action plan right now would be to seek an experienced oral surgeon so they can assess the positioning, health and potential impact of your wisdom teeth and make recommendations accordingly.

Visit #1 wisdom teeth removal office in Temecula, CA and the surrounding areas

It is hard to predict whether your wisdom teeth may cause problems down the line, but why leave it to chance when you can take meaningful, timely action to protect yourself against pain and health complications? Get ahead of the problem before it gets out of hand and reach out to Dr. Tsvetov here at Temecula Facial Oral Surgery. 

Dr. Tsvetov has experience in handling complicated wisdom teeth removal procedures. He can perform a safe surgical removal of your wisdom teeth and gently guide you through the process of recovery so you can go back to enjoying everything that the close-knit community of Temecula, sitting at the heart of Temecula Valley, has to offer. Schedule your appointment today!