Your wisdom teeth begin to come in during the late teens or early twenties. Wisdom teeth, which are also known as the third molars, are the last set of teeth to emerge. If your wisdom teeth grew in properly and are correctly aligned in the mouth, they won’t cause a problem. However, wisdom teeth are more likely to grow in improperly, cause crowding in the mouth, and need to be removed.
Reasons For Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Below are two of the most common reasons why your wisdom teeth may need to be removed:
- Fully Impacted – Wisdom tooth impaction means that the entire tooth is covered with gum tissue. This will prevent the tooth from properly erupting in the mouth. Full impaction is common when the patient’s mouth is too small for the teeth to have room to grow in. This creates a possibility that food debris or bacteria may become trapped under the gum tissue, potentially causing an infection. Because of this, the wisdom teeth will need to be removed.
- Partially Impacted – A partially impacted wisdom tooth means that the tooth is partially covered by the gum tissue. This will also require removal of the wisdom teeth as partial impaction can make them more vulnerable to dental cavities, tooth decay, and even gum disease.
A few less common reasons for wisdom tooth removal include:
- Gum disease
- Tumors or cysts
- Severe tooth decay
- Recurring infections
- Pain around the wisdom teeth
- Removal prior to orthodontic treatment
If you have concerns regarding your wisdom teeth, please make an appointment with your general dentist. He or she should be able to tell you what the correct course of action should be in your case.
To make an appointment here at Littleton Implants & Periodontics, please contact our Littleton, Colorado office today.