Wisdom teeth removal is a common preventative measure for overall oral health. Wisdom teeth can grow in at odd angles or become impacted. Impacted teeth either haven’t breached the gum line entirely or at all.

When this occurs, complications may arise, including pain, excess tooth wear, and infections.

Signs It’s Time for Wisdom Teeth Removal

Ideally, you should have your teeth checked every 6 months, and your Houston dentist should inspect your wisdom teeth before the age of 20.

Wisdom teeth are easier to remove at an earlier age because patients have a higher healing rate and the teeth are just generally more difficult to remove as the patient ages.

If you haven’t kept up with regular dental visits, there are some signs to look for regarding your wisdom teeth.

Of course, any pain is a definite red flag. Tooth pain is not really something to take lightly. Your body tells you when something is wrong. It is wise to listen and get it checked.

Another sign to look for is an irregular bite. If you feel like your back teeth are not fitting together well, either with adjacent teeth or upper or lower teeth, it could be a sign that your wisdom teeth are erupting at an angle.

Your Houston dentist should examine partially erupted teeth. They may not cause any pain or other discomfort, but if they start to come in, but never fully break the surface of your gums, dentists consider them impacted.

If you develop an infection around the site of your wisdom teeth, it’s definitely time to see a Houston dentist.

Wisdom teeth may not always cause discomfort when they are in a situation where extraction is necessary. Visit your Houston dentist regularly and have them determine if wisdom teeth removal is necessary.

Precautions with Infections

If an infection has developed, you must wait to conduct a wisdom teeth removal procedure. Infections can spread very quickly, especially with open wounds or exposed surgical sites. A doctor or dentist may prescribe an antibiotic to aid in fighting the infection. Wait until after the infection clears up before beginning the procedure.