Wisdom Teeth Extractions in Revelstoke
At Revelstoke Dental Centre, our Revelstoke dental team provides wisdom teeth removal.
What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth (also called third molars) are the last teeth to develop and appear in the mouth. They are called "wisdom teeth" because they usually appear during a person's late teens or early twenties, which has been called the "age of wisdom".
We're accepting new patients! If you believe that you require wisdom teeth removal, simply book an appointment by contacting us!
The normal position of wisdom teeth is behind the upper and lower second, or 12-year molars. Many times the jaw is not large enough to accommodate the four wisdom teeth. This is why wisdom teeth cause more problems than any other teeth in the mouth.
Most people have their wisdom teeth removed for one of the following reasons:
- They’re impacted. Because they're so far back in your mouth, wisdom teeth may not surface correctly. They can get trapped in your jawbone or gums, which can be painful.
- They surface misaligned. Wisdom teeth may surface at the wrong angle and may press against surrounding teeth.
- Your mouth isn’t big enough. Your jaw has no room for an extra set of molars.
- You have cavities or gum disease. You may not be able to reach your wisdom teeth with your toothbrush or dental floss. Sometimes it's easier to just remove these wisdom teeth.
Frequently Asked Questions
I don't have any negative symptoms. Is wisdom teeth removal necessary?
Many problems with wisdom teeth can occur with few or no symptoms, so there can be damage without you knowing it. It is important to know that as wisdom teeth develop, their roots become longer and the jawbone more dense.
Thus, as a person grows older, it becomes more difficult to remove wisdom teeth and complications can become more severe. In addition, as people age, there is an increased chance of the symptoms mentioned above. For these reasons, the dental or oral surgeon may recommend the removal of wisdom teeth even if they are not yet causing obvious problems, particularly for young adults.
Why don't wisdom teeth grow in right?
The shape of the modern human mouth is often too small to accommodate wisdom teeth which make their first appearance in young adults between the ages of 15 to 25. Over the course of time in the evolutionary process, humans learned to harness fire for cooking foods and developed blade tools to better process food before consumption, they reduced the need for strong jaws to chew food.
What problems can occur when wisdom teeth are impacted?
Partially erupted wisdom teeth are breeding grounds for bacteria and germs that may cause infection, and cysts and tumors may grow on a trapped wisdom tooth. Jaw pain and gum disease may occur. Not all wisdom teeth cause problems, however.
Aren't antibiotics enough to eliminate any infections caused by wisdom teeth?
Antibiotics only soothe infected wisdom teeth for a short time. Since people frequently use a wide variety of antibiotics, the infection may be resistant to such medication and doesn't solve the real problem: the tooth can't fit in your mouth.
What if there are no symptoms?
People with symptoms of impaction, such as pain, swelling and infection should have their wisdom teeth removed immediately. However, those with no symptoms can avoid the chance of ever suffering from the pain of impacted wisdom teeth or achieve better orthodontic treatment results by having them removed. Asymptomatic impacted wisdom teeth also should be removed to reduce the chance of unexplained pain, accommodate prosthetic appliances, or avoid cavities, periodontal disease, bone shrinkage and tumour development.
Do all wisdom teeth have to be removed?
No, not all wisdom teeth need to be removed – it is based on the dental situation of each individual patient.
Wisdom teeth typically don’t need to be removed if they’re healthy, have grown in completely (meaning they’re fully surfaced), are positioned correctly, and bite properly with the opposing teeth on the upper or lower jaw, and are able to be be properly cleaned and flossed in a patient’s daily hygiene practices.