Even though most high schools and colleges in the Lafayette, LA area have started classes (or will be soon), there is still time for students to get oral healthcare. The most common age range for wisdom teeth to emerge is ages 17-22. Some people have absolutely no issues with their wisdom teeth and they join the mouth without causing any problems. However, some people face problems with the eruption of these teeth. Sometimes these problems can be intercepted before the teeth emerge from the gums. Wisdom teeth extraction is not always necessary, but it is good to be prepared for the event that it is necessary. Routine dental exams allow for the wisdom tooth progress to be monitored.
Have They Erupted?
Wisdom teeth are also known as the third molars because they are the third (and final) molars to erupt in the smile. If there is not room in the smile for the teeth, they can come in at odd angles causing pain or damage to the surrounding teeth. There are also instances where a wisdom tooth can partially erupt creating a flap of gum tissue. This flap can easily get infected, which can cause inflammation and pain. If you or your child is experiencing pain in the farthest back teeth, it could be a problem with erupted wisdom teeth. To solve these issues, an extraction may be the best solution.
Are There Foreseen Problems?
Routine dental exams often include x-rays for your dentist to get a closer look at your smile. With x-rays, your dentist can see what is going on beneath the surface. Sometimes it is evident that a wisdom tooth will not have room to erupt or that it will become problematic if it does. There are also times when a wisdom tooth can become impacted, which means it is beneath the bone. In these situations, your dentist may recommend preemptively removing your wisdom teeth before they get a chance to cause problems for your smile.
Wisdom teeth sometimes need to be extracted
Wisdom tooth extraction depends on the individual situation. To schedule a consultation, contact us at our Lafayette, LA, dentist’s office at 337-237-6453. We proudly serve patients from Breaux Bridge, Broussard, Scott, Youngsville, and surrounding communities.