Wisdom teeth are also known as wisdom teeth and have significant differences compared to other teeth. Firstly, they appear later (between the ages of 16 and 25) and it should be noted that they do not always erupt, so there are patients who do not have wisdom teeth.
How many wisdom teeth are there? There can be up to four wisdom teeth, one in each quadrant, and nowadays the extraction of wisdom teeth has become one of the most common and habitual interventions carried out in a dental surgery.
Why are wisdom teeth extracted?
First of all, it is good to know that they do not necessarily have to be extracted, as this depends on the patient and dental factors specific to the type of teeth and their development:
- Is it a good idea to remove wisdom teeth? To understand why the removal of wisdom teeth is a necessary intervention in many cases, a number of factors need to be considered.
- What are they for? First of all, we should know that we are dealing with molars that have no aesthetic or functional function, i.e. they serve no purpose.
If we add to this the fact that infections in this type of molars are common, as well as the fact that they can push the rest of the teeth out of alignment, it is clear that extraction is the most logical option.
One of the particularities of this intervention is that if the tooth is close to the nerve of the tooth, the maxillofacial surgery specialist will be in charge of the intervention.
What would happen if we don’t remove wisdom teeth?
First of all, it should be made clear that it is not necessary to extract wisdom teeth in all patients, but that extraction will be chosen in those cases in which wisdom teeth may cause problems in the future.
If we do not carry out this intervention, there are a series of negative consequences, such as dental misalignment due to the fact that the wisdom teeth push the rest of the teeth in order to find space in the dentition.
This can cause movement in our teeth, affecting the natural position of the teeth, and we have to resort to orthodontic treatment to restore the correct position.
Caries is another of the usual consequences of wisdom teeth, something that should not surprise us considering their position in the mouth, so the patient will find it difficult to carry out proper dental hygiene of the tooth.
Finally, we cannot forget about the appearance of cysts or gum infections as other consequences that the patient will suffer if the wisdom teeth are not removed.
What are the symptoms of a wisdom tooth infection?
The symptoms that warn us of an infection in the wisdom tooth are not very different compared to those of the rest of the teeth. We are talking about:
- Pain and swelling of the gum near the molar.
- Bleeding or bad breath.
- If the infection is pronounced, the patient may develop febrile symptoms. Perhaps one of the symptoms that is often different is that the patient may have difficulty opening his or her mouth due to the position of the wisdom teeth.
In any case, if you suffer from these symptoms, the best thing to do is to see a specialist for an examination and a treatment adapted to your needs.
Medical tests for wisdom teeth
Nowadays there are a wide variety of tests and techniques that are focused on finding out the state of the wisdom teeth. As a general rule, X-rays are one of the most recommended alternatives, as they allow us to determine whether the teeth are impacted.
In conclusion, we can determine that wisdom teeth are an important issue within the dental health sector and often cause numerous problems, so that the extraction of these teeth has become one of the most common options nowadays.
Agenta tu primera cita con el dentista en Mexicali, México.
This post is purely informational and does not replace a consultation with the dentist in any way. Contact the smile agents team to schedule an appointment with one of the dentists at Smilers Dental Clinic.
