I love that my family dentist is tech-savvy. It's so easy to book a dentist on his smartphone app if I have a tooth problem or if anyone in my family needs emergency problems (I can choose either my normal dentist or another dentist in his practise depending on availability). He also has some great cameras so that we can see exactly what is going on during treatment. I prefer not to see this, but my kids love to be able to see the dentist using his specialised tools to clean and repair their teeth. This blog has some tips on finding a tech-savvy dentist to help give your family the best possible dental care.
Wisdom teeth can cause a wide range of dental health problems. Removing the wisdom teeth helps to resolve these issues, which is why wisdom teeth removal is such a common procedure. Here are five reasons that your dentist might recommend that you get your wisdom teeth removed.
1. Impacted Wisdom Teeth Can Cause Infection
Wisdom teeth that are fully erupted from the gums can often remain in place without causing major problems. Unfortunately, it is very common for wisdom teeth to only partially erupt or to not erupt at all. Wisdom teeth that are impacted (buried underneath gum tissue) pose a high risk of infection at some point during your life. Even if your impacted wisdom teeth are not currently causing you any problems, your dentist might recommend their removal to prevent them from causing an abscess of infection later.
2. Crowding Can Affect Other Teeth
Many people's jaws are not large enough to accommodate both their wisdom teeth and their regular teeth. If the crowding issue is not addressed quickly, the wisdom teeth can push the other molars out of alignment, leading to problems with eating and discomfort in general. Wisdom teeth removal prevents crowding and therefore protects the alignment of other teeth.
3. Wisdom Teeth Can Be Difficult to Clean
Many people have wisdom teeth that are awkwardly aligned or positioned, making them difficult to clean. For example, to properly clean partially erupted wisdom teeth, you might need to slip the toothbrush bristles underneath a flap of gum tissue, leading to irritation. Not cleaning wisdom teeth properly can leave them at risk of decay. To prevent future cavities, decay and gum disease, your dentist may recommend wisdom teeth removal.
4. Wisdom Teeth Can Cut Cheeks and Tongue
It is very common for wisdom teeth to erupt pointing either inwards or outwards, which means that their chewing surfaces can scrape against the tongue or the insides of the cheeks while eating. Wisdom teeth removal prevents this issue, removing the risk that a cut or scrape could develop into an ulcer that refuses to heal or gets infected.
5. Wisdom Teeth Can Cause Headaches
Some people experience more than dental issues as a result of their wisdom teeth. Crowding towards the rear portion of the jaw is a surprisingly common cause of consistent headaches. Wisdom teeth removal could free you from this pain, allowing you to live a normal life. Ask your dentist if your wisdom teeth could be causing your headaches and if removal could be the right option for you.
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