Unsure if your wisdom teeth need removing? 5 signs they do from our dentist at Family Dental Care

When you hit your teenage years, those days of teeth erupting can seem like a distant memory.

Unfortunately, it isn’t over yet! Between 11-17 years of age, the majority of people experience the emergence of their wisdom teeth; 4 molars at the back of the mouth which can cause plenty of problems with the surrounding teeth.

As most people have already got their full set of adult teeth in place when these teeth begin to erupt, it can be a bit uncomfortable and when you are experiencing wisdom teeth eruption, you should see our team as soon as possible.

At Family Dental Care, our dentist in Doncaster East knows all about wisdom teeth and will be able to check if they are able to stay in your mouth. In many cases, we will opt for a removal due to the secondary complications that they can cause. But if you can have them stay in your mouth, then we will make sure they are kept in top condition just like the rest of your teeth. Perfect!

But what are some of the signs that you may need to have your wisdom teeth removed?

Sensitivity

Ok, so new teeth erupting is bound to cause some sensitivity, but in this instance our dentist in Doncaster East is referring to discomfort after the teeth have erupted.

If you notice pangs when drinking hot tea or cold drinks, it may be a sign that the pulp of these teeth is closer to the surface (wisdom teeth are often deformed) and they may need removing for your comfort.

Bad breath or taste

Wisdom teeth are often misaligned and as such, it can be harder to clean them and the surrounding gums correctly.

If you have a bad taste in your mouth or persistent bad breath, then our dentist in Doncaster East will need to remove these teeth. Alternatively, we can recommend brushing techniques to help reduce the plaque and thus reduce the odours and tastes.

Stiffness in jaw

Erupting wisdom teeth can protrude at odd angles which can cause issues with your bite and may put pressure onto your other teeth.

The end result is a stiff jaw, which can feel like difficulty with opening and closing your mouth. If you notice this, talk to our team and we will conduct diagnostic X-rays to determine if your wisdom teeth are creating stiffness.

Sinus infections

If you have recurrent sinus infections since your wisdom teeth erupted, this may be due to the upper set growing into the sinus cavity.

Once again, our team will conduct X-rays and will begin planning an extraction to prevent future sinus infections from occurring.

Inflammation

If you have inflammation around your emerging wisdom teeth which makes them difficult to brush (called pericoronitis) we can compile a long-term care plan to reduce plaque and tartar from forming on your new teeth. In severe cases of recurrent inflammation or infection, we will usually opt for a complete extraction to prevent the inflammation from spreading.

DISCLAIMER

All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.