Wisdom teeth are often extracted after they erupt, but they don’t always have to be pulled if they’re not causing any issues. In this blog from Waterfront Dental, we’ll discuss a few common questions and topics related to wisdom teeth extractions, and help you understand if your wisdom teeth may need to be extracted in Baltimore.
The problem is that wisdom teeth come in much later than our other teeth. These teeth are our third set of molars, and unlike the rest of our adult teeth, they are not present when we’re born.
This means they develop in our mouths much later, and emerge much later, too. You will have the rest of your adult teeth by the time you’re 12-13, in most cases. But the wisdom teeth start to come out at the age of 16 or 17, and sometimes erupt as late as the age of 25.
The main issue is that lots of people don’t have enough space in their mouths to accommodate these teeth when they start to erupt. In turn, this can cause the wisdom teeth to not erupt all the way (impaction), to grow sideways, or to cause a variety of other oral health problems. If this is happening to you, the best option is usually to just remove them.
Despite the fact that wisdom teeth come in later than the rest of our teeth, they don’t always need to be removed. In lots of patients, the wisdom teeth don’t cause any major issues, and can be left in place once they start to erupt.
Routine oral exams from Dr. Merguerian at Waterfront Dental can be helpful in tracking the development of the wisdom teeth, either in you, or in your child. She can use x-rays to make sure the wisdom teeth are emerging properly, and track their position over time to make sure they are not causing any other dental problems.
If you think that your wisdom teeth need to come out, or your child is complaining of oral pain and you think their wisdom teeth may need extraction, there are a few things you should look out for, including:
These are all signs that the wisdom teeth may not be growing properly, and could be causing complications like oral infections. You need to schedule a consultation at Waterfront Dental right away to get the care you need.
Dr. Dawn Merguerian can help you get the help you need if you think that your wisdom teeth need to be extracted in Baltimore. Contact us online or call us at (410) 505-0551 to schedule your consultation and get the care you need right away.
