Wisdom Teeth Removal: Preserve Your Investment in Orthodontic Treatment
Did you spend years wearing braces to straighten your teeth? Did you know that the arrival of wisdom teeth could threaten your orthodontic investment?
It’s true; the emergence and retention of wisdom teeth could cause the rest of your teeth to overlap and rotate. Since wisdom teeth can threaten the alignment of your dentition, we recommend scheduling a consultation with our oral surgeon as soon as your dentist alerts you to the arrival of wisdom teeth.
What Are Wisdom Teeth and Why Do We Have Them?
Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that come emerge between the ages of 17 and 25. In the past, people lost many of their permanent teeth by their early 20s and 30s due to inadequate oral hygiene and healthcare. Now that our teeth last much longer, the need for these teeth is obsolete.
Why Should I Have Third Molars Removed?
Not only is the need for wisdom teeth obsolete, but the presence of these teeth is also problematic. Since we retain most of our teeth well into our mature years, having third molars erupt threatens the placement of teeth. Wisdom teeth cause crowding, which not only moves teeth out of position, it increases the risks for developing tooth decay, periodontal disease, and painful infections like an abscess.
What Happens if I Keep My Wisdom Teeth?
If you decide to keep your wisdom teeth, you will likely have increased risks for a number of conditions like periodontal (gum) disease and oral infections. Keeping wisdom teeth is also problematic to your quality of life as their retention can cause headaches and orofacial pain.
Why Choose an Oral Surgeon for Treatment?
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMS) is a dentist with post-doctoral education and training to work as a specialist. This means that an OMS is a literal expert at diagnosing and treating conditions that affect the entire oral cavity. Intimately familiar with oral anatomy, an OMS can safely and skillfully remove wisdom teeth.
If your dentist has recommended that your wisdom teeth be removed, call us at Stonebriar Facial & Oral Surgery today to reserve a consultation.