Your wisdom teeth are your third molars, that come in way in the back of your mouth. Depending on the size of your mouth and jaw, you may not have enough room for these teeth. In this case, it’s typically recommended that the teeth be removed to avoid pain for you and possible damage to your other teeth.
Dr. Igor Babenkov is a very skilled and caring dentist with over 30 years of experience providing his patients with excellent dental services. He provides both general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry to help his patients have healthy teeth and beautiful smiles. He advises his patients on wisdom teeth removal and can help you decide what’s right for you.
What are wisdom teeth?
Humans can have up to 32 teeth, which includes eight regular molars and four wisdom teeth. Your molars are the bigger teeth in the back of your mouth and you have two on each side, top and bottom. Your wisdom teeth are your third molars, way in the back of your mouth behind your other molars.
Your wisdom teeth grow much later than your other teeth. Most people have wisdom teeth coming in between 17 and 25 years of age. It’s thought that this is why they’re called “wisdom” teeth, because you’re much older when they grow.
When it’s wise to lose those wisdom teeth
Some people have enough space for their wisdom teeth to be in their mouth without any problems. For many people, however, there isn’t enough room for the teeth to come in and they can cause pain and problems when they try to grow where there isn’t space. This is known as having impacted wisdom teeth.
A wisdom tooth that’s impacted can cause pain and a number of more serious problems, like:
Pressing on other teeth
If your wisdom teeth don’t have room to grow, they press against your other teeth to try to make room. This can cause your other teeth to become crooked, requiring orthodontic treatment to straighten them out again.
Infections
If there’s so little room in your mouth that your wisdom teeth can’t even emerge past your gumline, bacteria can thrive in that space. It’s difficult to clean this area, which can worsen the infection.
Cysts
If your wisdom teeth can’t emerge, sometimes fluid-filled cysts develop. These can cause damage to your jawbone, as well as the nerves and neighboring teeth. Removing the teeth prevents this from happening.
Decay
It can be very difficult to reach way into the back of your mouth to clean your wisdom teeth and neglecting them can cause decay. It’s better to remove your wisdom teeth before this happens.
Tumors
In very rare cases, tumors can develop around the cysts that are created as a result of your impacted wisdom teeth. These can make it extra difficult to remove your wisdom teeth.
If you’re experiencing swelling, pressure, and pain as your wisdom teeth develop, it’s best to have us check them to determine if they need to be removed. Doing so can prevent more serious dental issues from developing.
If you have questions about your wisdom teeth or any other dental concerns, call The Dental Office of Dr. Igor Babenkov, D.D.S., in Roseville, California, to set up an appointment or use our online booking system to schedule a date and time that’s best for you.
