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Wisdom Teeth - What Are Wisdom Teeth and Why Are They Necessary

  • Posted by Andrew Paul February 16, 2023 Filed in Health #Wisdom Teeth  44 views
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    When people reach their late teens or early 20s, 智慧齒 typically start to erupt (grow out of the gum). Sometimes they come in without causing any issues.

    But other times they erupt crooked, push against other teeth, or don't have enough space to come through properly. That can cause pain, swelling and discomfort.
    Dental

    Dentistry is the art and science of keeping your teeth and gums healthy. It includes preventive care, restorative and cosmetic treatment, as well as the replacement of missing teeth with dental implants or bridges.

    The goal of most dentists is to preserve natural teeth, but if you have extensive tooth decay or other problems, your dentist may recommend removal of the affected tooth or teeth. This is typically done in a simple way, either by your dentist or oral surgeon.

    If you need a more complex extraction, your dentist will refer you to an oral surgeon who will perform the procedure under IV sedation. This will make the surgery a lot more comfortable and pain-free.

    Dentists recommend removing wisdom teeth if they increase your risk of tooth decay, push up against other teeth or are impacted. They also may be causing misalignment and shifting of your bite.

    Lastly, wisdom teeth can create infections and damage to your surrounding teeth and bone. They can also change the alignment of your bite and cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in your jaw.

    Most dentists recommend removing wisdom teeth when they are younger and before the roots and bone are fully formed, so that recovery is easier. This is especially true for cases of impacted teeth or those that are partially emerged through the gums.
    Wisdom teeth

    Wisdom teeth are the last molars to come in and usually appear in people between the ages of 17 and 21. It's unclear why this is the case, but it may be a holdover from eons ago when humans had to chew harder foods that required additional teeth for support.

    However, they're not necessary for healthy chewing and are often associated with a variety of dental issues. The most common problem is impacted wisdom teeth, which can cause pain, infections and damage to nearby teeth.

    Symptoms include bad breath, jaw pain and discomfort. The impacted tooth can also be difficult to clean, which increases your risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

    Impacted wisdom teeth can also change the shape of your mouth and affect your bite. In some cases, this can lead to jaw misalignment that causes headaches and pain.

    If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it's important to see your dentist immediately. The treatment for impacted wisdom teeth is usually a simple extraction, done by an oral surgeon. It's one of the most common procedures performed in the United States. Fortunately, advances in medicine and technology allow the procedure to be minimally invasive. Our team at Nixon Dental has the training, experience and equipment to perform your surgery with ease and comfort.