The wisdom teeth typically begin to emerge during a person’s late teens or early twenties, and their appearance often leads to a host of oral health issues like chronic pain, dental misalignments, and oral infections. If your mouth does not have enough room to accommodate your wisdom teeth, these third molars may erupt from the gums sideways or remain partially submerged in your soft tissues, which causes them to become impacted. Here’s a brief guide to why this can happen and how your oral surgeon can help.
Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth?
Before humans figured out how to cook and otherwise prepare their food, they subsisted on a tough diet of raw plant and animal matter, and they needed a little extra force to chew this fare properly. Back then, the third molars served to help pulverize fibrous food into an easily digestible pulp. However, the average jaw size has shrunk considerably in the thousands of years since then, so wisdom teeth often cause dental crowding today. Interestingly, some research suggests that eating tougher foods earlier in life can help the jaw develop so that it can accommodate the wisdom teeth.
Why Do Wisdom Teeth Emerge Sideways?
If the mouth does not have enough room for the wisdom teeth to fit properly, they may emerge from the gum tissue sideways or remain partially or fully covered by the gum tissue. This can create pockets within the soft tissue in which food debris and harmful oral bacteria can accumulate, which results in infection. The pressure the wisdom teeth exert on the neighboring pearly whites can also push them out of alignment, which makes them easier to injure and causes constant aching pain.
How Can My Oral Surgeon Address Sideways Wisdom Teeth?
If your wisdom teeth are more trouble than they’re worth, your dentist will probably refer you to a trusted oral surgeon who can perform a safe and painless extraction. Wisdom teeth that fail to emerge properly usually require complex extraction procedures that require deeper forms of anesthesia, and you can expect to feel no pain during the process. While you may feel some discomfort while healing, adhering to your surgeon’s aftercare instructions will keep your recovery period as smooth and brief as possible.
Don’t let your wisdom teeth cause you constant pain and misery. Consulting with your dentist can help you find the best way to restore comfort to your smile.
About the Practice
Texas Dental Surgery offers the finest oral surgical services available in Prosper. Led by Drs. Stephen Walker and Sammy Houari, the staff ensures that each patient receives compassion and courtesy in a clean and comforting office environment. Areas of expertise include general oral surgery, TMJ therapy, sleep apnea treatments, dental implants, and wisdom tooth extractions. To learn more about wisdom tooth extractions, contact the office online or dial (469) 296-8680.