Wisdom teeth are among the most common causes of considerable dental-related pain. These are located at the back of your mouth and emerge between ages 17–21. There exist two sets of wisdom teeth or third molars making them four in total.
The most common issues that plague wisdom teeth are cavities and impaction. These cause considerable pain owing to their proximity to your nerve roots. Cavities will commonly follow inadequate dental hygiene and a spread of bacteria from infected teeth and gums.
Impacted wisdom teeth among Salt Lake City residents, on the other hand, often result from the lack of jawbone space for the growth of third molars. Most people assume that wisdom teeth issues are only managed by extraction
Although this is the case in most instances, some wisdom teeth issues can be handled by fillings, crowns, and dental caps. The following are the common indications for the extraction of wisdom teeth.
Gum Issues
Wisdom teeth that have partially erupted can result in gum issues around their areas of impaction. These include the development of cysts or tumors in the jawbone or gum tissue and infections.
Extensive root canal damage and gum infections can also follow cavities in wisdom teeth. Since these both have a significant effect on your oral and overall health, the solution is to remove the wisdom tooth.
Damage to Neighboring Teeth
Wisdom teeth which have not fully erupted have areas surrounding them where bacteria, food particles and plaque accumulate. Over time, this build up causes the formation of cavities.
If the cavity does not develop around the affected wisdom tooth, then it can affect neighboring teeth. In these cases, extraction is the solution to save other teeth from cavities.
Hindrance to Jaw Movement and Chewing
There are times when the wisdom tooth will fully erupt. Due to lack of enough space on the jawbone, however, it does so in a position that causes it to scrape on our mouth’s soft tissues continually.
Additionally, the position can make it difficult for you to adequately chew your food since you risk biting your inner cheeks. In these cases, wisdom tooth extraction is indicated to restore the normal functioning of your mouth and facilitate optimal digestion.
Signs the Tooth Cannot Fully Erupt
If your wisdom tooth is moving towards the direction of its nearby teeth when erupting, this is a clear sign that it will be impacted. Moreover, this movement puts pressure on the dental roots of adjacent teeth and causes their resorption. Consequently, this permanently damages the nearby tooth. Extracting the tooth will save the adjacent one.
Most people only associate wisdom tooth extraction with considerable pain. This is however not the only time you can have the third molars extracted. The above indications might not have any outward symptoms, but they have grave consequences.
As such, regular dental visits are the only thing that can readily diagnose them and get the tooth extracted before it becomes symptomatic. This diagnosis will be made through a dental x-ray which visualizes the pattern of growth of your wisdom teeth and any issues surrounding the area.
