When a person is around 16 to 20 years old, the wisdom teeth will start to erupt. Third molars are called wisdom teeth because they are the last to come through the gum line. Since they are the last ones to emerge, your mouth may no longer be able to accommodate them. This is how the wisdom teeth can become a problem.
The wisdom tooth can be trapped underneath the gum tissue by teeth or even some bone. If this happens, the tooth is then called an impacted wisdom tooth. Impacted teeth result in pain, swelling and tenderness. If the pain affects your daily routine, you should consider wisdom tooth removal as soon as possible.
Wisdom tooth removal is highly recommended if you have the following issues:
Tooth is unable to erupt fully
Impacted tooth is causing pain and infection
Impacted tooth is decaying
Once the tooth is impacted, it is often necessary to extract them. Infection can develop if an impacted tooth is not removed. In addition, you will suffer from dental pain, stiffness in the jaw and generally ill feeling.
Aside from these consequences, impacted teeth are also hard to clean because of their position in the mouth. If the teeth have a problem with eruption, they can be susceptible to plaque build-up and development of infection.
If you don’t pay attention to the treatment, the impacted wisdom teeth may result in serious infection, aside from other illnesses such as complication in opening the jaw and bad breath odour.
It is normal to feel some discomfort and swelling after the procedure. Your dentist will make sure that you are duly guided on how to manage the discomfort by giving you comprehensive post-operative instructions. In addition, further dental visits are important to allow your dentist to monitor the healing process and the success of the treatment.
Smoking after wisdom tooth removal is one of the top causes of dry socket. It’s advisable to quit the habit for a few days to avoid delaying your healing process.
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), smoking can also affect your sense of taste and smell and delay your recovery after a tooth extraction or other dental procedure.
In addition, the tar from cigarette smoke stains your teeth, causes bad breath and can discolour your tongue. The only way to remove these stains is with professional cleaning in the dentist’s office.
Our dental team at EK Dental Surgery in Forest Hill has extensive experience in removing impacted wisdom teeth. If you have any issues with your wisdom teeth, it’s advisable to consult your Forest Hill dentist as soon as possible. Our knowledge and employment of advanced technology allow us to deliver the safest and most comfortable extraction procedure possible.
To request an appointment with us, call us on (03) 9887 8787 or make an appointment online.
We are located at 230 Springvale Road in Glen Waverley.
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