New York’s Professional Dentists Explain All About Wisdom Teeth
It can come very suddenly – one day it feels like something is irritating your gums. The sensation won’t go away. Your local Queens dentist takes a look and gives you the diagnosis: A wisdom tooth (or several) is erupting and they need to be removed before they can wind up causing any possible issues, including gum disease.
You probably have a lot of questions about these teeth that seem to show up out of nowhere and disrupt your life. Things like: Did they ever serve any purpose? How old are people usually when they get them. What could happen if they are just left alone and ignored?
No need to wonder anymore. Here is everything you need to know about wisdom teeth.
Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth?
A bit more about those wisdom teeth – early humans had a very different diet than the people of today. Those teeth may have been very important in terms of their ability to chew the food that they hunted. Our current foods do not require those teeth and they have become useless – the jaw does not accommodate them and things can get quite crowded in there.
Besides the lack of room, which can affect how other teeth fit in one’s mouth and can cause problems with how their teeth look from an aesthetic point of view to actually making things like chewing and talking very difficult to nearly impossible. Removing the wisdom teeth can allow the other teeth to slide into their proper place on the jaw and ensure that everything fits and looks perfect.
When Do Wisdom Teeth Come In?
Most of the time, wisdom teeth will come in during one’s late teens to early 20s. There are usually four of them, but there are some people who have fewer than that – including those who have none. It’s not always guaranteed that the teeth will come out either. Sometimes they may remain dormant and come out later – but it’s usually better to get them out when you’re younger since it will be much easier thanks to softer bones around the gums and roots that still have not formed.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
This happens when there is not enough room for the wisdom tooth to come out. It’s a very uncomfortable situation that needs to be rectified as quickly as possible. That’s because the impacted tooth can damage the healthy teeth around it. Yes, there are times that they may not cause anything noticeable, but since they cannot be cleaned properly, they are ripe for tooth decay.
The solution to this is for the impacted wisdom tooth to be removed, regardless if they are causing pain or not. This can prevent later pain from the possible tooth decay or damaged teeth. Symptoms of an impacted tooth include red or bleeding gums, jaw pain, bad breath, trouble opening your mouth or noticing an unpleasant taste in it.
Wisdom Teeth Pain & Pericoronitis
Besides tooth decay, you may have to worry about getting pericoronitis, which will make your gums inflamed. This can be chronic for a variety of reasons but if it’s acute, which usually means there is a fever and swelling, it needs to be fixed before it spreads to your cheeks and other parts of your face. If it reaches your airway, you may need to go to the hospital.
Fortunately, for many, the removal of wisdom teeth has become a routine procedure that results in only a day or two of missed work, and a limit on physical labor for a couple of weeks after that. It just requires some rest and ice on the face to reduce swelling. The pain can be managed with over-the-counter medication like Motrin or Tylenol, but NOT aspirin, since that can cause bleeding issues.
See a dentist immediately if you suspect that you have a wisdom tooth coming in. It can save a lot of problems down the road. Also, seek dental care if there is still pain a few days after the extraction. Once you have recovered, you will find that you can resume your eating habits fairly soon afterwards and go back to enjoying life.
Looking For Wisdom Teeth Removal Services In Queens?
Come to JFK-LGA Dentist. Dr. Robert M Trager has many years of experience removing wisdom teeth over the course of his career. He’s conveniently located in Queens and is more than glad to answer any questions you may have. Give him a call today to make an appointment: 718-656-4747.
Dr. Robert M. Trager
JFK Airport
Building 14 West Wing,
Jamaica, NY 11430
Phone: 718-656-4747
Website: https://jfk-lga-dentist.com
