A few years ago, I started thinking carefully about what I could do to improve my smile. I had lived with crooked, yellowed teeth for most of my adult life, and honestly, I just wanted to feel beautiful. I started thinking about working with a cosmetic dentist, and before I knew it, I was in an office getting a complimentary consultation. I learned about a variety of different procedures that could improve my look, and it was really fun. I wanted to create a blog all about making smiles more beautiful, which is why I made this website. Check out this blog for great information about dentistry.
If you still have your wisdom teeth and are thinking of keeping them indefinitely, it may be wise to reconsider. Wisdom teeth are associated with multiple dental problems. Here are a couple of them:
Dental Infections
Wisdom teeth, especially those that have not already fully erupted, are associated with a condition called pericoronitis. This condition involves the infection and inflammation of the gums around a wisdom tooth.
When a wisdom tooth has not fully presented, a portion of the tooth may still be covered by the gums. The pocket that the gums form around the tooth can trap food and plaque after the patient eats. Once trapped, the debris can facilitate the growth of oral bacteria and cause an infection. Unlike other areas of the mouth, a toothbrush cannot reach beneath the pocket. In addition, floss is not effective in this area of the mouth.
Once pericoronits occurs, the patient usually experiences dental pain, extreme sensitivity in the back of the mouth and redness or swelling of the gums. The condition, which can make it difficult for the patient to eat or sometimes even speak, can be treated by your dentist. He or she is able to clean the pocket of to remove any residual debris. In addition, the gums that overhang the wisdom tooth can be snipped away. Still, unless the wisdom tooth is extracted, the condition can recur.
Dental Crowding
As wisdom teeth grow, they can place pressure on the other teeth in the mouth to shift together. This pressure can be alleviated by the removal of the wisdom teeth. However, if the wisdom teeth are left in place, the patient may eventually require braces. Once the wisdom teeth are removed, the other teeth still may not shift back into proper position, so it is best to have the wisdom teeth removed as soon as possible to prevent dental misalignment.
Failure to Erupt
Sometimes, wisdom teeth may be situated at an awkward angle beneath the gums. If the root of the tooth is growing laterally, not only is it likely to cause dental pain in the other teeth. It is also likely to cause tenderness of the gums. In a similar manner to the discomfort of babies who are teething, wisdom teeth that are not fully erupted can cause the gums to become sensitive and inflamed. Nevertheless, the teeth can be surgically removed even if they have not fully erupted.
If you are interested in having your wisdom teeth extracted, contact a dentist in your area.
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Share2 March 2016
