According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), 85 percent of all wisdom teeth need to be removed because there is no room for them to erupt. Back when we were hunters and gatherers, we needed our wisdom teeth to masticate large slabs of raw meat and other difficult to chew foods. At the time our jaws were bigger to accommodate the extra teeth. Evolution, however, has rendered wisdom teeth unnecessary. The size of our jaws has decreased, resulting in less space for wisdom teeth to erupt. That’s why in many cases, your dentist may recommend extraction before your wisdom teeth cause you problems.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are the last to erupt, and usually will do so between ages 17 and 25, which at one time was considered “the age of wisdom.” Because there is no longer enough room on our dental ridges for our wisdom teeth, in 85 percent of cases they may grow in sideways, emerge only partially, or become impacted (meaning that they remain completely trapped under gum and bone). You may not necessarily have symptoms when this happens. However, in many cases symptoms will eventually develop and can include:
- Pain
- Infection
- Swollen, tender, or bleeding gums
- Drainage
- An unpleasant taste in the mouth
- Bad breath
- Swelling of the jaw
- Misalignment of nearby teeth
- Headache and/or jaw ache
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, bring them to the attention of Dr. Wright. Although you may require surgical removal of your wisdom teeth, the good news is that wisdom teeth do not need to be replaced.
CALL JUST WRIGHT DENTAL IN CORSICANA, TX, TODAY!
At Just Wright Dental, our priority is ensuring that every visit is a comfortable and friendly experience and that all of our patients understand every stage of their diagnosis, planning, and treatment. To find out what a difference our patient-centered approach can make, schedule your consultation with Dr. Justin Wright and our team by calling our dental office in Corsicana, TX today at (903) 225-2221. We also proudly welcome patients from Navarro County, TX, and the surrounding communities, including Corsicana, Mildred, Eureka, Ennis, Fairfield, Teague, Blooming Grove, Dawson, Hubbard, Hillsboro, Mexia, Groesbeck, Kerens, Malakoff, Rice, Centerville, Buffalo, and Athens.