Madison: (601) 829-6272 | Jackson: (601) 981-3500 | Clinton: (601) 924-0770 | Flowood: (601) 936-0025 | Brandon: (601) 825-3807
Joking aside, wisdom teeth actually do come with age — that’s how they get their name! For most people, permanent teeth come in between the ages of 6-7, but wisdom teeth (also known as the third molars) start to come in between the ages of 17-24.
I’ve helped many patients through the wisdom teeth removal process over the years and know that it can sometimes come with some skepticism and anxiety. A few of the questions my patients commonly ask me about wisdom teeth include:
In today’s blog post, we’ll review all of this and more. Let’s get started!
In this scenario, the third molars still try to grow in — but because there’s not enough space, they grow in crooked or even sideways. This often causes teeth to shift or overcrowd as they try to make room for the wisdom teeth.
Sometimes, the wisdom teeth get stuck and never fully erupt above the gums. These are called “impacted” wisdom teeth. “Great!” you’re probably thinking. “As long as the wisdom teeth don’t grow above the gums, I won’t need to get them removed, right?” Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Impacted wisdom teeth become trapped in the jaw, and can cause pain, discomfort, tooth shifting, and even tooth damage if left where they are.
In instances where the wisdom teeth partially come in, barely erupting above the gum line, there’s an increased risk of developing tooth decay or gum disease around this and nearby teeth. These teeth are often difficult to clean and care for.
Here at The Winning Smile Dental Group, we won’t recommend wisdom teeth removal unless they are causing problems (or we think they might). So if your wisdom teeth are growing properly and are not…
We likely won’t recommend removal.
These expected symptoms are pretty common with wisdom teeth. However, sometimes there are more serious signs that may require you to see a dentist as soon as possible. Here are some of those signs to look out for:
However, wisdom teeth, especially if they’re impacted, won’t always show clear symptoms that they need to be removed.
That’s why it’s important to maintain your regular 6-month
dental exams
here at The Winning Smile Dental Group. Each exam includes dental x-rays, which makes it easy for me and our educated team to spot wisdom teeth as they are trying to grow in.
Whether you’re experiencing some of the above symptoms, or it’s been awhile since your last 6-month dental exam,
contact us
today to schedule your appointment!
Our comfort-first approach includes:
Not sure what that means for you? We’ll always make sure to talk through exactly what to expect before any procedure.
For most people, it takes about 3-4 days to recover from wisdom teeth removal, but it may take up to a week or more depending on the case. During that time, you should plan to take it easy — limit any activity that may irritate the stitches and incision site and stick to a diet of soft foods.
If you’re like me and have occasionally daydreamed about eating mashed potatoes for a few days straight, you’re in luck! Following the removal procedure, we typically recommend a diet of things like:
However, it’s important not to use a straw to consume any of the soft foods for at least a week after your wisdom teeth have been removed. This can irritate the incision site and cause a delay in healing.
Contact our team today to learn more!
The post Should Your Wisdom Teeth Come Out? appeared first on The Winning Smile Dental Group.
Clinton
104 Clinton Center Dr.
Clinton, MS 39056
(601) 924-0770
Flowood
4802 Lakeland Dr.
Flowood, MS 39232
(601) 936-0025
Brandon
1350 W. Government St.
Brandon, MS 39042
(601) 825-3807
Madison
1896 Main St. Suite B
Madison, MS 39110
(601) 829-6272
Share On: