When it comes to your wisdom teeth, waiting to get them out can result in dental issues that may not be obvious right away. Wisdom teeth can lead to serious discomfort and complications when not addressed promptly. A timely visit to a dental office in Hackensack, NJ to address wisdom teeth problems can help you avoid these complications. Minor discomforts can turn into major issues when not addressed immediately.
Wisdom teeth, or your third molars, must be removed once they cause issues because of their position in the mouth or the lack of room. Understanding the possible problems of delaying wisdom tooth removal lets you make informed decisions regarding your oral health.
Possible Complications of Not Getting a Wisdom Tooth Removed
Not undergoing wisdom tooth extraction can lead to serious complications such as the following:
- Impaction. Without sufficient space in the mouth, your wisdom teeth may not emerge properly, causing them to become impacted. Thus, the teeth get trapped beneath your gum line, causing pain, infection, and swelling. Also, impacted wisdom teeth can push against the neighboring teeth, resulting in misalignment and more dental problems.
- Infection. When a wisdom tooth is impacted, it can create pockets where harmful bacteria accumulate, resulting in infections like pericoronitis. Such an infection can result in serious discomfort, fever, and swelling. When left untreated, the infection can affect other parts of your body, including your bloodstream.
- Damage to the neighboring teeth. When wisdom teeth push against the teeth next to them, they can damage such structures. As a result, root damage, tooth movement, and cavities can happen. These issues require additional dental treatments.
- Gum disease. Cleaning around an impacted wisdom tooth is hard, which contributes to the development of gum disease. Such a condition can lead to bleeding and inflammation and result in tooth loss when not addressed immediately.
- Cysts and tumors. In some instances, cysts can develop around an impacted wisdom tooth. These cysts can damage your jawbone and the surrounding teeth. While rare, they can also result in tumor formation, which may require more surgical interventions.
If you believe you have a wisdom tooth problem, speak with your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist will discuss how to best address the issue with you.
Wisdom Teeth Extraction Benefits
Addressing issues with your wisdom teeth soon can help prevent compilations and improve your oral health. Getting your wisdom teeth removed offers the following benefits:
- Preventative care. Getting your wisdom teeth removed before their full emergence or before they become an issue will prevent impaction and infection. Such a proactive approach helps promote better oral health and avoid complex treatments down the road.
- Decreased risk of complications. Getting your wisdom teeth early reduces your risk of infection, damage to your other teeth, and cyst or tumor formation.
- Easier recovery. Typically, younger patients experience a more streamlined and quicker recovery after wisdom teeth extraction. In general, the surrounding tissue and bone are more resilient, resulting in faster healing and less discomfort.
- Preserved oral health. As you prevent complications associated with wisdom teeth, you can maintain or improve your oral health. This includes minimizing your risk of gum disease and protecting the rest of your teeth.
When to Have Your Wisdom Teeth Removed
Dentists usually don’t recommend wisdom teeth extraction to patients who are over forty unless the teeth are causing issues. When the procedure is performed at a younger age, worries regarding long-term complications are eliminated. Typically, discomfort, pain, and swelling last up to one week and are less serious if the patient is in his teens or twenties. But if you are experiencing an infection or symptoms, do not waste time. Schedule an appointment with your dentist for wisdom tooth removal as soon as possible.