Why Impacted Wisdom Teeth Are an Important Issue

Third molars, commonly called wisdom teeth, start growing when you’re about nine years old. By the time you are 14, the crowns have formed. In your later teens, when your jaw is fully developed, your dentist can look at x-rays and tell if your wisdom teeth have enough space to erupt normally into your mouth. If your jaw isn’t big enough, the teeth may be impacted or trapped inside. It is common for wisdom teeth to grow in at an angle and crowd the teeth around them.



Is It Necessary to Perform a Dental Extraction of Impacted Wisdom Teeth? 



Wisdom teeth can cause serious problems, even when they’re not visible in your mouth. Infection around the crown of an impacted wisdom tooth is a common cause of pain and swelling in the back of the jaw. People often mistakenly assume the pain is caused by the tooth trying to erupt. If repeated or chronic infection is allowed to continue for a long time, it can gradually destroy the bone around the impacted tooth or spread to other teeth. In some cases, just the pressure exerted by the impacted tooth can damage neighboring teeth. Cysts and tumors of the jaw are also frequently related to impacted wisdom teeth. Dental extraction of the offending teeth is the most effective way to resolve or prevent these problems.

How Will My Impacted Wisdom Teeth Be Removed? 



It is usually best to surgically remove your wisdom teeth when they’re impacted. Your dentist in Detroit or an oral surgeon will make an incision in the gums, removing any bone blocking access to the tooth, and then separating the tooth from surrounding structures. Dental extraction is easier before the roots become fully formed and while bone is still flexible. If your impacted wisdom teeth are removed in your teens, you’ll recover faster and have fewer complications. The majority of wisdom teeth extractions can be performed in an oral surgeon’s office. The tooth extraction cost and available anesthesia methods are based on the complexity of the surgery and may vary by individual patient. Talk to your dentist or oral surgeon about your personal preferences and financial options.

To get the dental care you deserve from an affordable dentist in Detroit, call Gentle Dental of Michigan today at or make an appointment.