Is your wisdom tooth so painful that you feel it’s bad karma punishing you for all your wrong doing? Here we tell you what exactly wisdom teeth are and why they are so painful. Later on, you’ll discover that it’s all part of growing up.
Wisdom teeth are the last set of teeth to come out when you are approaching adulthood. They are also referred to as the third molars. In most cases, adults have four but it is also possible to have more than four (supernumerary teeth) or fewer to none at all (hypodontia). Your dentist would examine you if your growing wisdom teeth are situated properly and healthy.
Wisdom teeth are a valuable asset when they are properly aligned and healthy. However, when they grow poorly positioned or unhealthy, they could cause a lot of problems. In this case, your visit to the dentist would be required. The poor alignment of your wisdom tooth with other teetch can damage the jawbone or even the nerves.
When wisdom teeth do not fully erupt or when they are enclosed within the soft tissue and the jawbone, this is case is called an impacted wisdom tooth. When they do not fully erupt, a small opening is created, allowing bacteria build-up around the tooth. A partially erupted wisdom tooth can become plaque or food traps resulting in tooth decay on the wisdom tooth and the adjacent tooth. If a wisdom tooth positions itself sideways or horizontally, it may become trapped in between the bone and the gum. Both cases can cause infection, pain, and swelling.
Wisdom teeth may need removal when there are evidences of changes in mouth activity such as but not limited to:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Cysts
- Infection
- Tumors
- Gum disease
- Damages to adjacent teeth
- Tooth decay
To know whether you have wisdom teeth, your dentist would take an X-ray from time to time to evaluate the presence and alignment of your teeth. Dentists may decide whether to refer you to an oral surgeon for further evaluation. Often times, oral surgeons would recommend having wisdom teeth extracted as early as possible before problems develop.
Remember, frequent visits to the dentist would save you a lot of trouble. Consult your dentist for questions or further instructions.
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