Wisdom Teeth Removal in Brownsville
Wisdom teeth, which are the last four teeth to appear in a normal human mouth, often cause problems by erupting crooked, becoming impacted or causing overcrowding in the jaw that impedes healthy bite and chewing function. That’s why so many people have their wisdom teeth extracted, typically during their late teen years.
Your wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get by the time they are in their early twenties. Having all your wisdom teeth can be a valuable asset to your dental health when they are healthy and properly aligned. Unfortunately, they are often misaligned. Wisdom teeth may erupt horizontally, angled toward or away from your second molars or angled either inward or outward. These poor alignments of your wisdom teeth can cause crowding or damage to adjacent teeth. Misaligned wisdom teeth can affect your jawbone or nerves, as well.
Why Wisdom Teeth Removal?
When wisdom teeth are impacted, they are either completely enclosed within your gums or jawbone, or partially erupted through your gum. Partial eruption provides a convenient opening for bacteria to enter and cause infection. Infection often leads to pain, swelling, stiffness and a general feeling of illness. Partially erupted wisdom teeth are more likely to suffer tooth decay and/or gum disease. Between their hard-to-reach locations in the back of the mouth and awkward positioning, brushing and flossing wisdom teeth properly is difficult at best.
Wisdom teeth removal is very common in America because wisdom teeth have given so many people so many problems for so long. Many dentists recommend wisdom teeth removal even if they are not currently causing any problems. Often wisdom teeth become problematic years after they erupt at the four upper and lower corners of your mouth. Problems with impacted wisdom teeth can include:
- Pain
- Trapped food and other debris behind wisdom teeth
- Infection or periodontal (gum) disease
- Additional tooth decay
- Damage to nearby teeth or bone
- Development of a fluid-filled sac (cyst) around the wisdom tooth
- Complications for orthodontic treatment
Many dental specialists disagree over extracting impacted wisdom teeth that aren't causing problems. Some dentists argue that asymptomatic wisdom teeth should be left alone, while others believe that removing wisdom teeth is a good preventive strategy for avoiding future problems. Our general dentists have years of experience with wisdom teeth removal. So you’re in good hands if your wisdom teeth give you any problems.
We offer our wisdom teeth services to patients from Brownsville, Harlingen, Los Fresnos, Port Isabel, San Benito, and surrounding locations.
If you've been searching for a "family dentist near me," call us to schedule your appointment at 956-546-2973. Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 12:00 pm (noon) to 8:00 pm.
