Wisdom Teeth Removal in San Diego

Typically wisdom teeth emerge between the ages of 17 and 21 but can even show from the age of 14. Some people have all four wisdom teeth erupt, while others may only see one or two appear. There are even some young adults without wisdom teeth due to genetics and ethnicity.

What are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth, also called ‘third molars,’ are your last set of adult teeth to grow in and are located in the very back of your mouth.

It has been said that wisdom teeth were essential for grinding and chewing and grinding raw, tough foods that our early ancestors’ diet consisted of. With the discovery of fire allowing us to cook and soften these foods, we began to need them less. However, we still pass on genes for wisdom teeth.

Sometimes, wisdom teeth grow normally and never cause any trouble. But more often than not, they become partially or fully impacted in your gums or jawbone.

What is an Impacted Wisdom Tooth?

Even if you have wisdom teeth below the gum line, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will emerge. Dr. Young will take X-rays to see whether they need to be removed. The main reason for wisdom teeth extraction is how they are positioned beneath the gum line.

Wisdom teeth that fail to erupt into the mouth either lie sideways or cannot emerge due to a lack of space. The clinical term used is an impacted wisdom tooth. Most cases of wisdom teeth removal are due to impaction.

Impacted wisdom teeth can be painful and quickly become infected. Signs of infection of impacted wisdom teeth include:

– Painful, swollen gum tissue
– Discharge and bleeding
– Bad breath
– Swollen lymph nodes and low-grade fever
– Painful chewing

Wisdom teeth removal is necessary if they become infected, cause damage to other teeth, or show signs of decay. Extracting impacted wisdom teeth while there is an infection can cause it to spread into other areas of the body. In this case, Dr. Young in San Diego, California, will prescribe antibiotics before your wisdom teeth removal appointment. Ignoring impacted wisdom teeth may cause more serious oral infections.

Should Healthy Wisdom Teeth Be Removed?

Even if your wisdom teeth seem healthy, you should still consider removing them to avoid future dental issues. Wisdom teeth can reposition at any time in the gums, quickly leading to impaction and possibly infection.

Not only that, but because wisdom teeth sit very far back in the jaw, they are harder to reach. Typically they don’t get brushed and flossed correctly and tend to develop cavities faster than other teeth.