Is It Time to See Us About Your Wisdom Teeth?

Believe it or not, the last of your teeth actually come in some time between the ages of 17 and 22. They are commonly referred to as wisdom teeth, since they erupt when a is person older, and presumably wiser. They are often removed because they are vulnerable to decay, disease and other problems, and they can crowd or damage your other teeth.

Your dentist might be able to reach your wisdom teeth for easy extraction. However, if they are not easily accessible, they are called impacted wisdom teeth, and other steps are called for. Not all wisdom teeth are impacted, and there are different ways teeth can be impacted. The crown of the tooth may have erupted with the rest of the tooth remaining under the gumline. In other cases, part of the tooth has erupted while much of the tooth remains in the jawbone. In some instances, the tooth is completely inside your jawbone.

Some of the symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth include pain or swelling in your jaw or gums, or bleeding gums. You may also experience headaches or swollen lymph nodes.

If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your dentist immediately. You should also be aware that you may not experience any symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth, and they may only be detected by an examination or an x-ray during your regular dental visit.

If your wisdom teeth are erupting, or you are experiencing the symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth, make an appointment to see our oral surgeon, Dr. Jose Lopez. If you live in the Houston, Texas, area call JF Lopez, DDS, MD, RPh, PA at 713-622-8607. We look forward to seeing you soon!