The most commonly extracted teeth in the oral cavity are the wisdom teeth. The wisdom teeth generally begin to erupt in the late teen years and can sometimes be problematic as they come into the oral cavity. Some people never develop wisdom teeth and do not have to deal with the complications they can pose.
For those who do develop wisdom teeth, there can be varied problems associated with them. In some situations, the wisdom teeth remain either partially or completely impacted in the jawbone. This means they failed to push all the way through into the oral cavity. This can create problems by pushing the existing teeth out of alignment and cause a need for a wisdom tooth removal procedure.
Those patients who have problems with their wisdom teeth should come to see us immediately at our Coastal Maine Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery office for an assessment. Following the evaluation, we will then recommend the appropriate treatment plan for you.
Eruption of Wisdom Teeth
Each patient has a unique timeline for when their teeth will begin to erupt into the oral cavity. With wisdom teeth, the general guideline is the late teen years. While wisdom teeth are meant to erupt just like other teeth, because of the crowded state of most oral cavities, there is sometimes a distinct lack of space available for their proper eruption.
Due to the lack of space in the oral cavity, sometimes wisdom teeth will erupt incorrectly. This means they will try to find space where there is none which can create issues for the other teeth in the oral cavity. For some, this might mean the wisdom teeth erupt partially which means just a small portion of the tooth is visible, while in other cases they might not erupt at all and remain completely hidden beneath the tissue. It is important to remove the wisdom teeth before they have to disrupt the alignment of the other teeth.
When is an Extraction Necessary?
If the wisdom teeth fail to erupt in a correct manner, they will still try to push through the path of least resistance. This can cause them to come in at strange angles, sometimes appearing sideways on x-rays. In severe cases, wisdom teeth extraction is necessary. If left to their own devices, the wisdom teeth could come through the side of the gums or even the roof of the mouth. It is imperative that patients have regular checkups to make sure their wisdom teeth are properly erupting to avoid any invasive procedures to correct the issues.
Without question, the most frequently extracted teeth are the wisdom teeth. Patients should come in for an evaluation at our Coastal Maine Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery office. We can also be reached by phone. Patients should simply call this number: Contact 207-401-5006 for a phone consultation or to get their appointment scheduled with us as soon as possible. Give us a call today.