Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that grow in much later than other adult teeth and are notorious for being problematic. They do not serve any necessary purpose, as is evidenced by the fact that dental patients are able to chew just fine with two sets of molars until they begin to erupt between the ages of 17 and 21, and in more cases than not they can do more damage than good. A dentist can determine whether or not a patient’s Wisdom Teeth in Summit NJ will need to be removed before they even begin to grow in with an X-ray, but for those who are uncertain, there are a few easily recognized warning signs that this may be the case.
Many wisdom teeth become trapped beneath a patient’s gums, failing to erupt completely due to insufficient room in the mouth. This is called impaction. When this occurs, the teeth can sometimes erupt only partially, forming pockets in the gums that allow bacteria in and create a dangerous infection that can spread to the rest of the jaw.
This kind of common infection is usually fairly easy to recognize. It is usually accompanied with pain in the jaw and surrounding region while chewing, and sometimes severe swelling. This, along with stiffness, can cause a patient difficulty with comfortably opening and closing the mouth. Headaches, fever, and ear pain are often caused by infected wisdom teeth as well.
Even if a patient’s symptoms are not severe enough to negatively impact his or her daily life, impacted wisdom teeth can still have a detrimental effect on the rest of the mouth over time. They can cause overcrowding and shifting of otherwise healthy teeth, often requiring more extensive reconstructive dental work further down the line. The best time to deal with problem Wisdom Teeth in Summit NJ is as early on as possible. As these teeth, whether they are erupting normally or not, develop the roots become more firmly attached to the surrounding bone and tissue. Those who believe their wisdom teeth may be the root cause of their pain or other issues can contact Westfield Oral Surgery today for a consultation.
