What Are Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Getting teeth removed is never a fun process. When it comes to your wisdom teeth, your Tampa dentist may be recommending extraction to prevent things like gum pain and shifting teeth. For the majority of patients, a wisdom tooth extraction is a relatively easy procedure with a smooth recovery. For some patients, however, this process can be more challenging for your Tampa dentist. If you have impacted wisdom teeth, you may be one of these patients.

What is Wisdom Teeth

If your dentist in Tampa mentions that you have impacted wisdom teeth, it is crucial to your oral health that you take this seriously. Wisdom teeth become impacted when there is not enough room in the mouth for the teeth to come in normally. This can cause the teeth to come in crooked, cause oral pain, or in serious cases they can cause gum disease. Even if you are not currently exhibiting these symptoms, your dentist may recommend removal of impacted wisdom teeth as a proactive measure. Dental x-rays can reveal the status of the teeth and how severe the need for extraction is.

A few of the most common symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth are pain and swelling in the gums. This will likely be the most obvious symptom that your teeth may need to be removed. Less obvious symptoms include bad breath as the teeth are difficult to clean, as well as jaw pain. If you ever experience any of these symptoms, even if they do not seem troublesome, consult your dentist to make sure there are no underlying causes.

While many patients will never experience this kind of situation, it is still important to know the signs and work with your dentist. Letting these go could cause significant oral problems down the road that could all be avoided. Not sure if your wisdom teeth need to be removed? Schedule your next appointment with North Pointe Dental today.