Wisdom Tooth
When It Becomes a Problem and How to
Deal With It
A wisdom
tooth is a tooth that grows commonly when a person is around
17 years old until 21 years old, though some people may get it older.
These teeth are the third molars in both the upper and lower set of
teeth. They are located at the very farthest corners of the mouth and
can thus be hard to reach.
The term “wisdom tooth” is only used because the
teeth are said to grow at an age that a person has already gained
wisdom.
The additional tooth growth is not
something to worry about in all cases. It only becomes a problem under
certain circumstances.
A healthy tooth that grows in the right
positioning will cause no problems at all and only requires proper
cleaning to avoid decay and infection.
But a wisdom tooth can be a
problem in certain circumstances :
When Does it Become a Problem?
Some of the problems when wisdom teeth are:
- Problems with Wisdom Teeth Growth
- Problems with Wisdom Teeth and Gum Infection
- Problems with Wisdom Teeth Maintenance and Health
1. Growth
For one thing, inadequate space to grow is the first cause of
a problem with this extra tooth growth.
This is a very common cause of wisdom teeth problem. If the
tooth does not have enough space to grow, it may become impacted.
Impacted tooth often cause pain and can also make your jaw feel stiff.
This is the number one cause of wisdom tooth extraction. Also, it can
grow against the molar beside it and crowd your other teeth, which can
cause major dental problems.
Aside from that, there are other smaller problems that can be
caused by these late-growing teeth. Some people experience growths that
rub against the back of their cheek or other areas around it, which can
cause irritation and even pain. In some cases, the pain goes away as
the mouth adjusts to the extra growth. But in extremely incorrectly
angled teeth, removal may also be necessary.
2. Gum Infection
One problem that may also arise when your wisdom teeth starts
growing is that it might break halfway through your gums. In such
cases, your gum can easily grow over the tooth, and food can get stuck
in the flap of gum. This will lead to gum infection. If you think this
could be a problem, talk to your dentist about how to handle the
situation. This will certainly not be a cause for extraction, but if an
infection has already developed, it would require additional treatment.
3. Maintenance and Health
Another common problem is how to keep your wisdom teeth clean
and healthy given their location. These molars grow very far back and
can be hard to reach, especially with big-headed toothbrushes. The size
of your jaw can also affect this.
However, despite these limitations, it is highly necessary to
keep the tooth or teeth clean. Since the area is quite hidden, food can
easily get stuck in that area, which can lead to infection, cavities,
and eventually to tooth decay. What could have been a problem-free
growth of the third molars might still lead to extraction without
proper care.
What to Do
If you are experiencing problems with a wisdom tooth, it is
best to consult a dentist immediately to determine whether any
corrective action or extraction has to be done. Diagnosis will mostly
require an x-ray of the tooth area to determine the growth direction
and the conduciveness of the surrounding environment.
In major problems with the teeth, extraction is the answer.
This is done by your dentist or an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. High
risk cases are often done at hospitals, but most other minor
extractions can be completed in a simple clinic setting. In case of an
infection, however, the infection has to be healed first before an
extraction can be done.
Pain during wisdom tooth extraction is often not a problem
since you will be given a local or general anesthetic, depending on
your specific case. If you are having more than one tooth extracted, a
general anesthetic is more sufficient.
After the removal of the tooth, some cases require stitches
and you will undergo a recovery period, which usually just takes a few
days. If you feel pain during this period, you can ask your dentist
about using painkillers.
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