A Word to the Wise
Your mouth goes through many changes in your lifetime. One major dental milestone that usually takes place between the ages of 17 and 21 is the appearance of your third molars. Historically, these teeth have been called wisdom teeth because they come through at a more mature age.
When they come through correctly, healthy wisdom teeth can help you chew. It’s normal to feel a little discomfort when your wisdom teeth appear, but if you have pain, see your dentist immediately.
Room to Grow?
Wisdom teeth can lead to problems if there isn’t enough space for them to surface or they come through in the wrong position. If your dentist says your wisdom teeth are impacted, he or she means they are trapped in your jaw or under your gums.
As your wisdom teeth make their way through your gums, your dentist will be monitoring your mouth for signs of the following:
- Wisdom teeth that aren’t in the right position can allow food to become trapped. That gives cavity-causing bacteria a place to grow.
- Wisdom teeth that haven’t come in properly, which can make it difficult to floss between the wisdom teeth and the molars next to them.
- Wisdom teeth that have partially come through can give bacteria a place to enter the gums and create a place for infection to occur. This may also lead to pain, swelling and stiffness in your jaw.
- Wisdom teeth that don’t have room to come through are thought by some to crowd or damage neighboring teeth.
Why You Might Need to Have Your Wisdom Teeth Removed
Every patient is unique, but in general, wisdom teeth may need to be removed when there is evidence of changes in the mouth such as:
- Pain
- Infection
- Cysts
- Tumors
- Damage to neighbouring teeth
- Gum disease
- Tooth decay (if it is not possible or desirable to restore the tooth)
For the wisdom teeth solution in Calgary, Alberta, look to the team at of White Oak Family Dental.
Our practice has been providing Calgary residents with modern dentistry for years. Regardless of the number of wisdom teeth you need removed, we will help you to feel care-free throughout your treatment. White Oak Family Dental has helped thousands of people get a healthy smile.
With White Oak Family Dental you will be our top priority. Call White Oak Family Dental today, we give you something to smile about.