Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are an extra set of molars that do not have enough space to grow at a normal angle. The typical age for the appearance of wisdom teeth is between 17 and 21 years old, although not all older teenagers and young adults get all four unnecessary teeth. Some have only one wisdom tooth erupt, while others do not get any at all.
Why Removing Wisdom Teeth is Critical
Wisdom teeth become impacted when they attempt to grow in at an unusual angle. Because they cannot sit as your other teeth do with the roots below the gum line and the crown of the tooth above the gum line, wisdom teeth can cause pain and infection if not extracted in a timely manner. Wisdom teeth cause inflammation, which leads to a condition known as pericoronitis.
Left untreated, pericoronitis can cause some or all of the symptoms listed below.
- Difficulty swallowing
- Facial swelling
- Fever
- Lockjaw
- Pus and other drainage
- Severe toothache
- Swelling and redness of the gums
Although you will experience some discomfort after your wisdom tooth extraction, it is temporary and not nearly as severe as what you could deal with if you ignore the symptoms of an impacted wisdom tooth.
The Extraction Procedure
Dr. Hull starts the process by cutting into your gum tissue to expose the unerupted wisdom teeth and the bone attached to them. He removes any bone blocking the wisdom teeth first, divides the tooth into pieces, and removes pieces of each wisdom tooth one at a time. Dr. Hull finishes the procedure by cleaning the site where he removed your wisdom tooth and making sure that no bone or debris remains.
Schedule a Consultation to Learn More
We monitor children for wisdom tooth growth and then schedule oral surgery once we notice the teeth attempting to break through the gums. Please reserve a time to meet with Dr. Hull in person to learn more about extracting wisdom teeth in Gregory SD
