Wisdom Teeth - What You Need To Know

As we age, our teeth go through several changes. We start when we are very young with baby teeth. Once we reach the age of 17-21 we start to get what we call third molars. These are often referred to as wisdom teeth because we get them when we are beginning to mature.

About Wisdom Teeth

When wisdom teeth come in properly they can be very beneficial because they give you more chewing power. The main problem we face is that there are often problems with wisdom teeth as they come into the mouth. They may crowd other teeth, be painful, or generally not grow in the proper manner. Many individuals end up having to have their wisdom teeth taken out for a wide number of issues. If you have any problems with your wisdom teeth you should speak to your dentist at Trafalgar Village Dental in Oakville immediately to address the problem before things start to get worse.

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Wisdom Teeth Need Room

Wisdom teeth need room to grow into the mouth. If they don't have enough room they may not surface properly or they could come in at a wrong position. Your wisdom teeth may become impacted which indicates they are trapped under the gums or in the jaw. This is a common problem with wisdom teeth.

Common Problems

When the teeth aren't in the right position you can get food trapped in the location and this can help bacteria which cause cavities to grow
When the teeth don't come in properly you will have more difficulty flossing between the wisdom teeth and your regular molars
If the teeth partially come through they can allow bacteria to enter the gum line and this can cause an infection. you may have stiffness, swelling, or pain in the job.
When there isn't enough room for the wisdom teeth to come through they can start to crowd your other teeth or damage the teeth nearby
If you have a wisdom tooth which is impacted there can be a cyst that forms on the wisdom tooth or near the impacted tooth. This could damage nearby teeth roots or destroy the bone that is supporting the teeth

Why You Might Need Wisdom Teeth Removed

There are several reasons why you might need to have wisdom teeth removed.

Pain - If you have any wisdom teeth pain this can indicate a problem with them
Infection - A wisdom tooth may have an infection and this is an indication that the tooth might have to be removed
Cysts - These can form on impacted wisdom teeth
Tumors - In some cases, you may have a tumor that develops and this requires the removal of the wisdom tooth
Teeth Damage - Other teeth can be damaged by wisdom teeth and this requires the removal of the problem tooth
Tooth Decay - In some cases, the wisdom tooth may have serious tooth decay and needs to be removed. these teeth are generally a lot harder to save than other teeth are due to their position in the mouth
Gum Disease - Teeth that are impacted by gum disease such as wisdom teeth usually have to be removed if the gum disease is serious

If you have any concerns about your wisdom teeth or other dental issues, give Trafalgar Village Dental in Oakville a call today. Our office is conveniently located at 117 Cross Rd, just south from QEW and Trafalgar in the Service Ontario plaza. Our practice is growing and welcoming new patients.