Wisdom Teeth

Signs of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

About Wisdom Teeth

An adult, with all of their permanent teeth, has thirty-two teeth total. The wisdom teeth are the last to develop and are the last molars in all four quadrants of the mouth. Wisdom teeth begin to form during childhood, typically before the teenage years, and are fully developed by a person’s mid teens. While in their twenties, an individual’s wisdom teeth begin to erupt through the gums, this process exposes the crown of the tooth. Fully erupted wisdom teeth, which are positioned properly and healthy, are a beneficial asset to an adult’s mouth, but for some individuals the wisdom teeth can become impacted or cause overcrowding, which can cause complications. If not treated immediately, impacted or crowded wisdom teeth can cause gum bleeding, tooth and gum disease, development of cysts, cause damage to adjacent teeth or cause teeth to shift or become crooked.

Symptoms of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

The symptoms listed below can be mild to severe. If you, a family member, or friend is experiencing any of the symptoms below, contact Columbia Falls Family Dental Center for an appointment with one of our trusted dentists. We want to make sure you or your loved ones are comfortable and healthy.

– Difficulty chewing
– Headaches
– Swelling around the jaw
– Bad taste in the mouth or unpleasant breath
– Tender, painful, bleeding, redness or swollen gums

If these symptoms are being experienced and the wisdom teeth have not been removed yet, an impacted tooth is most likely the cause. Often times with impacted wisdom teeth a bacterial infection can occur causing some of the symptoms above as well. Bacteria can find it’s way underneath the gum tissue, which cannot be brushed away with a daily oral cleaning. This infection will need to be remedied by one of the Columbia Falls Family Dentists.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

Wisdom teeth can be removed by sedative medication and surgical extraction. This procedure is easier when the patient’s roots are not fully formed, which is why a great number of patients choose to remove their wisdom teeth at a young age or before any problems ever occur. Wisdom teeth removal is a safe procedure to complete at any age. Once an adult has reached their forties and fifties, the wisdom teeth roots will become fully attached to the jawbone making extractions more difficult, but still an available option for infected or overcrowded wisdom teeth. Consistent visits to Columbia Falls Family Dentistry and diligent at-home oral care will prevent wisdom teeth complications in the future and insure patients they get their wisdom teeth removed at the appropriate age. Contact Columbia Falls Family Dentistry today to schedule your next checkup and cleaning. We look forward to seeing your beautiful smiles!