How to Know if Your Wisdom Teeth Need to be Removed

Some people are lucky enough to get their wisdom teeth and never have a problem in the world. Others, not so much.

Did you know that if your wisdom teeth aren’t causing pain, you may still need to have a wisdom teeth extraction? It ultimately has to do with how they’re affecting the teeth next to them.

Crowded and Crooked Teeth

When there’s lack of space inside of your mouth, the third molars (wisdom teeth) can become impacted or only erupt part of the way. This pressure can cause adjacent teeth to shift out of place, creating a chain reaction throughout the rest of the mouth. In fact, you may not realize your teeth are repositioning until you start to see the ones at the front of your mouth looking crowded or crooked.

If you’ve had braces before, this can be a pretty big concern.

Swelling in Your Jaws

Teeth have a natural eruption cyst around them when they’re developing and getting ready to come in. Sometimes, this cyst can become enlarged and press against the tissues around it, creating swelling in the jaws toward the back of your mouth.

Pain (Off and On, or Constant)

Typically, wisdom tooth pain is a come-and-go type of symptom. You may experience moderate discomfort today and nothing tomorrow. If it gets to where the discomfort is more often than not, it’s probably time to go ahead and have your wisdom teeth removed.

Cavities or Other Infections

Because of their location, wisdom teeth are at a heightened risk for developing cavities and periodontal (gum) disease. Even if you practice good oral hygiene (including flossing every day,) the third molars may only be partially erupted and impossible to thoroughly clean every day. This can let small amounts of food debris and plaque slip just under the gums, ultimately leading to a cavity or infection. Like any other tooth, such problems can start to spread to adjacent teeth as well.

Rather than just treating the cavity or periodontal infection — which is at an increased risk of recurring — it’s typically a healthy choice to have the wisdom tooth removed.

Feeling Nervous? We Have Something for That, Too!

It’s natural to have a little bit of anxiety related to your wisdom tooth removal. At Holland River Dental in Bradford, ON, we offer sedation dentistry choices to help our patients relax during an extraction, oral surgery, or any other type of dental treatment where comfort is a concern. Sedation is a safe and effective option for our patients that are looking for a bit more comfort during their visit.

Schedule a Wisdom Tooth Evaluation Today

To find out whether you — or your teen — need to have wisdom teeth removal surgery, start by scheduling an exam and X-ray with our Bradford dentist. We’ll take a full-mouth panoramic film to determine the location and positioning of each of your third molars, so that you can make an educated choice about whether to have them pulled. Contact us today to get started!