Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are a third group of molars that grow late in the dental arch. While they were useful to our ancestors, who had a much tougher diet than we do, the way we eat and the shape of our jaws have evolved. For these reasons, these teeth are no longer useful to us. What's more, they often lack the space to position themselves correctly.
At Le Dentiste, we offer a complete assessment of your wisdom teeth, and recommend their extraction if it's the best option for the health of your smile.
Why Do Wisdom Teeth Often Cause Problems?
Wisdom teeth normally erupt between the ages of 17 and 25. At this stage of life, the permanent dentition and jaws are already well formed. For this reason in particular, and due to the changing shape of our jaws, which have diminished in size as the human species has evolved, wisdom teeth are often problematic.
The first thing to consider is their positioning at the ends of the dental arch, at the very back of the mouth. This makes their daily cleaning much more complex than for the rest of the dentition. Secondly, due to a lack of jaw space, these third molars often erupt irregularly. They may grow in the wrong direction, harming the other teeth. They may also remain fully embedded in the jaw beneath the gum tissue (impacted teeth), or erupt only partially (semi-in impacted teeth). As we shall see, these combined factors can lead to a variety of oral health problems.
Extraction: the Solution to Control Risks of Complications
Wisdom teeth extraction can be considered as a solution to the risks associated with problem teeth. This surgery can be proposed both as a preventive measure, before pathologies manifest themselves, and as a curative measure when a patient has already suffered from infections or other problems. Your practitioner at Le Dentiste will be able to direct you towards the most appropriate solution, depending on the position of your wisdom teeth and how they erupt. If extraction is not immediately recommended, rigorous follow-up will be necessary to monitor the development of associated problems.
Possible Complications of Wisdom Teeth
- Increased Risk of Pathologies: Because they are more difficult to clean as part of the hygiene routine, the anatomy of these teeth and the way they erupt are factors to consider. These factors increase the risk of dental caries and gum disease around wisdom teeth.
- Recurrent Infections: The gums around wisdom teeth may have a gap or operculum where food residues or bacteria can accumulate. This can lead to infection of the tissues surrounding the wisdom teeth (pericoronitis). Repeated infections, which can be painful, are a good reason to extract these teeth.
- Damage to Other Teeth: By growing in the wrong axis or in the wrong place on the dental arch, wisdom teeth can exert pressure on other teeth. There is therefore a risk of damage, which can be significant.
The surgery required to extract wisdom teeth is routinely performed by our dentists in LaSalle, Pointe-aux-Trembles, Bellerive, Châteauguay and Town of Mount Royal.
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