Most people are aware that Houston dentists frequently remove wisdom teeth for a variety of reasons. How do you know if you need them removed?
Wisdom teeth, the third set of molars at the back of the mouth, are a vestigial body part. This means you don’t really need them to have a normal life.
But who wants to remove teeth just because?
Determining When to Remove Wisdom Teeth
For many people, they won’t ever have to remove their wisdom teeth. They come in just like any other tooth, but it usually occurs somewhere between the ages of 17 and 23.
When wisdom teeth first start erupting, a person might notice a dull pressure or throbbing in the back of their mouth before the teeth actually become visible.
As with any sensation of pain in your mouth, it’s best to have your teeth examined by your Houston dentist.
The dentist will use special imaging techniques like a panoramic radiograph that can visualize teeth under the gums using x-rays.
When they examine your teeth around this age range, they can determine if they are going to pose any issues for your oral health.
Wisdom Teeth Removal in Houston
If your dentist recommends removing your wisdom teeth, you can do it one at a time or all at once.
You may only need to remove one or two if they have become impacted (unable to erupt through the gums). However, all may need to be removed if your mouth is too small to accommodate them.
Dentists in the Memorial area of Houston can remove one or all teeth in a single visit, thereby removing the threat they pose to your oral health.
Right after the surgery, you will feel some discomfort, but ultimately, it will be a lot better than not having them removed.
What if I Don’t Remove Them?
Ignoring recommendations to remove wisdom teeth leads to several problems.
The main issues patients face are excess wear on adjacent teeth and gum disease, in addition to pain associated with the pressure of the tooth on an adjacent tooth.
Impacted wisdom teeth can lead to gum disease as they may only partially erupt while causing damage to surrounding tissue. This gives bacteria an opportunity to get under the gums more easily.
