How Urgent Are Wisdom Tooth Extractions?

Erupting teeth can cause a certain level of discomfort, especially if there is little room in the jaw for proper growth and development, which is often the case with wisdom teeth. The safest and most reliable way to avoid the potential health risks of untreated wisdom tooth impaction can lead to is to have them extracted. 

One thing is certain: if a health issue is impacting your quality of life in a negative way, it is essential to do something about it as soon as possible. This is a typical scenario involving problematic wisdom teeth, and something that wisdom teeth removal specialists in Menifee and the Temecula area often deal with.

So how urgent are wisdom teeth extractions?

What happens if you leave a wisdom tooth infection untreated?

How much time a patient has from the time they start exhibiting symptoms to the moment when extraction becomes absolutely inevitable depends on individual circumstances. To make matters worse, many patients struggle with an invisible enemy: their wisdom teeth are problematic but the symptoms just aren’t there. 

In the absence of signs and symptoms of problematic wisdom teeth, it is almost impossible for the patient to report to a specialist in a timely manner unless they have a regular appointment scheduled around the same time. But failure to consult a dentist or oral surgeon in a timely manner can lead to huge complications frequently associated with wisdom teeth, and patients are often unaware that anything is wrong. 

The pain that wisdom teeth can cause can be excruciating, but is not the only complication associated with an untreated wisdom tooth: 

• Bad breath
• Unpleasant taste in the mouth
• Inability to open the mouth
• Swelling in the jaw
• Jaw pain and tenderness
• Sensitive, swollen, red or bleeding gums

Leaving a wisdom tooth infection untreated can have other devastating consequences, including cysts, tumors and jaw fracture.

However, the treatment procedure is straightforward. Your oral surgeon will examine you, recommend a course of treatment and introduce you to your pain management options so you can choose one that you are most comfortable with.

How will your oral surgeon assess urgency?

When evaluating the urgency of surgical wisdom tooth extractions, oral surgeons will take into consideration the patients’ symptoms and take a close look at their panoramic or 3D X-ray. This will give them a clear view of all four wisdom teeth and they can make recommendations on a course of treatment that could lead to the most favorable outcome. 

What happens if you wait too long to get wisdom teeth out?

Sometimes, a patient will endure mild pain and discomfort for a long time before seeing a dentist or oral surgeon. However, when wisdom teeth are concerned, minor discomfort could disguise complications which can wreak havoc on the patient’s oral, dental and general health.

The longer a person waits to have their wisdom teeth removed, the higher the health risks. One such health risk has to do with infections caused by untreated wisdom teeth, and with the extent and severity of the infection. 

Long-term damage from wisdom teeth may include:

• Wisdom tooth decay 
• Damage to surrounding teeth
• Misalignment
• Recurring infections 
• Gum disease
• Cysts

Meet the wisdom teeth removal specialist who is the number one choice in Menifee and beyond

To summarize: the longer you wait or put off having a wisdom tooth removed, the worse it gets. The safest and most reliable way for patients in Menifee and other areas in Riverside County to avoid wisdom tooth complications is the simplest one: have the problem tooth removed. Wisdom tooth extraction is often a complex procedure that needs to be done surgically. As such, it requires surgical precision and expertise. But when done by an experienced professional, the procedure is simple and straightforward. 

Welcome to a practice that understands you are nervous and frightened about your upcoming wisdom tooth extraction, and allow us to dispel your fears and eliminate your discomfort. Dr. Tsvetov will guide you through the procedure with patience and confidence. Let us cater to your needs and make your discomfort go away. Contact us today!