Dental Library | Long Dental | Wisdom Tooth Removal

Wisdom Tooth Removal

Dentist in Wilmington, NC

About 10 million wisdom teeth are removed each year from 5 million people. Oral surgery to remove wisdom teeth is a standard procedure that is practiced every day. After visiting your dentist, he or she may recommend to get your wisdom teeth removed. However, you may wonder why you need them removed even though they don’t cause pain.

Just because your wisdom teeth are not a source of pain doesn’t mean that there is nothing wrong. Most of the time, wisdom teeth need to be removed because they don’t have room to grow properly and may cause problems. Other reasons include:

Damage to other teeth: Impacted wisdom teeth can shift other teeth as they continue to grow. This can undo the effects of braces, crowns, bridges and partial dentures. It can also cause mouth pain and bite problems.

Sinus issues: Problems with wisdom teeth can lead to sinus pain, pressure and congestion.

Jaw damage: Impacted wisdom teeth may develop cysts or tumors. If they aren’t treated, they can hollow out your jaw and cause damage to nerves.

Inflamed gums: Because there is limited space for wisdom teeth to erupt, infection and inflammation may be common. Gum disease and inflammation can lead to receding gum tissues, deterioration of the jawbone and tooth loss.

Cavities: Your wisdom teeth are more susceptible to cavities since it is more difficult to clean them. Bacteria can grow, which causes cavities to form.

Before deciding on getting your wisdom teeth removed, your dentist will look at the shape of your mouth and the position of your teeth. In addition, he or she will take x-rays to determine the growth pattern of your wisdom teeth.

There is no age limit to getting your wisdom teeth removed but as you get older, surgery and recovery can be more difficult. In most instances, you can wait several months to see if anything changes in your wisdom teeth before making a final decision. However, if you experience pain or swelling near the back of your teeth, contact your dentist for a consultation.

Visit Our Wilmington Dental Office

Wilmington, NC Dentist

Our Address:
736 Medical Center Drive Ste 101
Wilmington, NC 28401

Phone: (910) 762-0355

Office Hours
Monday: 8:00AM – 6:00PM
Tuesday: 8:00AM – 6:00PM
Wednesday: 8:00AM – 5:00PM
Thursday: 8:00AM – 5:00PM
Friday: 8:00AM – 2:00PM


Read Our Wilmington Dental News

Dentist in Wilmington, NC

Are Your Drinks Attacking Your Teeth? | Dentist...

September 15th 2023

If carbonated soft drinks are part of your normal daily routine, you may be causing serious da...

Read More

6 Tips for Preventing Tooth Decay in Children |...

September 1st 2023

Oral health is important at every stage in life. Just because your children are going to lose ...

Read More

Periodontal Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis | ...

August 15th 2023

Periodontal disease, or gum disease, and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) are a systemic inflamma...

Read More