A dentist in Greenville, SC knows that it is a privilege to show patients how their teeth is connected to their overall physical health and emotional well-being. One of the important functions they perform includes ascertaining when, and if, your wisdom teeth appear. Depending on the type of dentist that you go to, you may or may not get a referral to a specialist who has the special knowledge and experience to remove your wisdom teeth if required.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Most evolutionary biologists agree that your wisdom teeth are vestigial organs that were developed by our ancestors to chew hard grass, grains, and meat. Eventually, when mankind started preparing softer foods, wisdom teeth became superfluous.
Today, some people never develop wisdom teeth. They can sometimes appear very early or late in life, but for most people that do develop wisdom teeth, they start to grow between the ages of 17-25. People usually develop two, sometimes four, and even more on rare occasions.
Why Do You Have to Remove Your Wisdom Teeth?
You do not always have to remove your wisdom teeth. Complications, however, can occur and for this reason, dentists often recommend their removal. Sometimes wisdom teeth only partially erupt. This can cause food to become trapped between the wisdom tooth and the gum or other teeth, leading to infections. Sometimes, the wisdom teeth may even crowd out other teeth or start to grow sideways. Sometimes a cyst can also form, which can infect the jawbone.
Most people get their wisdom teeth taken out either due to complications that a dentist has noticed or as a precautionary measure.
What an Oral Surgeon Can Do for You Regarding Wisdom Teeth
Removing wisdom teeth is one of the most popular forms of oral surgery. Greenville oral surgery specialists will safely and painlessly remove your wisdom teeth when the time comes to do so. You will need to discuss certain things with the surgeon prior to having them removed, such as any chronic illnesses or medications you may be taking.
The surgery generally takes about 45 minutes. Usually, patients are given an anesthetic locally or intravenously. After the surgery, you may need to use an ice pack to get rid of any swelling. Most people do not experience any pain. However, you will likely need to eat softer foods until the area heals.
If you do develop pain or fever, you will need to call the dentist immediately as this could be a sign of infection.
Sources
Healthy smile, deltadentalins.com
Oral Surgery Basics, yourdentistryguide.com