Impacted wisdom teeth can create a number of other problems for patients, as well, which is why so many people consult with an oral surgeon about having their wisdom teeth extracted. If your wisdom teeth have not yet erupted and you’re older than your mid-teens, schedule a consultation.
How can my wisdom teeth affect my smile’s alignment?
Wisdom teeth become impacted when the jaw is too small for them to erupt properly. Human jaws have become smaller over the course of time, so this is a problem for a huge number of patients.
Unfortunately, impacted wisdom teeth will continue to try to push through the gums. Although their efforts to erupt are unsuccessful, there are ripple effects that influence the smile. One of these is that the rest of the teeth will attempt to shift to make room for the wisdom teeth.
Preventive Wisdom Tooth Extraction
A crooked smile isn’t the only consequence of impacted wisdom teeth. When the third molars don’t erupt, the patient faces an increased risk of infection and abscesses, as well as cysts and tumors. The wisdom teeth can also cause significant discomfort.
Because we don’t need our wisdom teeth, many patients will opt to have an oral surgeon extract them as a preventive measure before any problems even develop.
Impacted wisdom teeth must be removed surgically because the oral surgeon must first excise the bone surrounding the teeth before accessing the teeth to extract them. The procedure and subsequent recovery are more predictable in younger patients, so it is recommended that patients schedule wisdom teeth extraction by age 25.
Is preventive wisdom tooth extraction the right choice to help keep your smile straight and avoid other issues associated with impacted wisdom teeth? Contact the office of Dr. Robert Peak to learn about your treatment options.