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Risks of Keeping Your Wisdom TeethWisdom teeth are located at the furthest point of your gums and are your third set of molars. They mostly emerge during the teenage or early adulthood years. The wisdom teeth are not vital in your dental functions, and you can live without them. These teeth are also vulnerable to impaction and can damage your surrounding teeth. Our dentists at Chicago Dental Esthetics will discuss with you the risks of keeping your wisdom teeth. Some of the common risks you should be aware of include the following. Wisdom Teeth ImpactionSome people don't have any issues with their wisdom teeth, and removal might not be necessary. However, wisdom teeth can become impacted, resulting in pain and other dental problems. In some instances, they may not cause any obvious problems, but since they are problematic to clean, they can result in cavities, decay, and gum disease. Once our dentists note that your wisdom teeth are impacted, they recommend immediate removal. Several risks can develop because of not removing the impacted wisdom teeth. Damage to the Surrounding TeethWhen the wisdom teeth fail to erupt, they can grow abnormally and push your adjacent teeth. These teeth can damage the second molars and make them susceptible to damage; too much pressure on the surrounding teeth causes crowding. Development of CystsThe wisdom teeth develop via a sac on your jawbone. When they fail to erupt, this sac will accumulate bacteria leading to infections and the development of cysts. Cysts will damage the surrounding teeth and jawbone. Treatment of cysts involves drainage and incision of a fluid-filled sac. Tooth DecayImpacted wisdom teeth are hard to brush and floss. Bacteria and food particles will lodge in these teeth. The bacteria produce harmful toxins that lead to the wearing down of the tooth's enamel. If the problem is not addressed early enough, cavities will develop, eventually leading to decay. The bacteria can also attack your gum tissues leading to gum infections. Severe gum infections can lead to loss of teeth and bone loss. Do All Wisdom Teeth Require Extracting?Our dentists will check the nature of your wisdom teeth and decide whether extracting is necessary. If the teeth are well-erupted and healthy, you don't require extraction. However, for impacted wisdom teeth, early removal is necessary to prevent future problems such as decay, gum disease, and infections. Our dentists will extract the wisdom teeth if they interfere with the development and health of other teeth. There is still a debate about whether there is a need to remove wisdom teeth that are not causing any issues. Removal of impacted wisdom teeth is the best preventive measure our dentists at Chicago Dental Esthetics take to prevent teeth crowding, decay, cysts, and gum disease. The extraction process starts with x-rays to identify the nature of impaction. The removal process is surgical and requires the administration of a local anesthetic. If you have any issues with your wisdom teeth, don't hesitate to contact us at (224) 341-5162 and request a professional consultation with our dental experts. |
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