The last molars to erupt from the gums are called wisdom teeth. Most people have between one and four wisdom teeth, and these molars generally appear when people are in their late teens to early twenties. Although some people may never experience problems with their wisdom teeth, many others experience impacted wisdom teeth that don't emerge or grow properly. Our Los Angeles dentist can help you discover how many wisdom teeth you have and whether or not they are impacted.

Impacted wisdom teeth can present in several ways. They may not fully emerge from the jawbone or only partially emerge. They may even emerge sideways. Impacted wisdom teeth can lead to a number of serious oral health problems.

An impacted tooth can damage adjacent teeth. It often pushes against the second molar as it emerges, making both teeth more vulnerable to infection. In some cases, wisdom teeth can also lead to overcrowding, which may necessitate orthodontic treatment. Impacted wisdom teeth are also frequently difficult to clean. Food particles and bacteria get trapped around the wisdom teeth, irritating the gums and increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

The complications associated with impacted wisdom teeth can lead to bad breath, swelling, and pain. The symptoms may be chronic or occasional.

The best way to prevent these problems is to remove impacted wisdom teeth. If the teeth are already causing complications, the need for extraction may become more urgent. An extraction is generally performed on an outpatient basis. If you tend to suffer from anxiety related to dental procedures, talk to our Los Angeles cosmetic dentist about sedation dentistry.

Our dentist provides various treatments for the patients to cover all their dental needs. In addition to removing wisdom teeth, our dentist provides Lumineers, porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, Zoom whitening, dental implants and many other treatments.

 

Source: Los Angeles Cosmetic Dentist
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