Problems

Wisdom teeth create more problems than they solve. This is because wisdom teeth which are also known as the third molar solve nothing at all. They are one of the few features that we still share with our ancient caveman cousins. Hundreds of thousands of years ago the human jaw was larger than it was today so there was room for the wisdom tooth to come up through the gum. Now days our jawbone is smaller, so often when the wisdom tooth grows it has now here to go. This leads to problems.

When an impacted wisdom tooth starts to push through the gum, an infection can start around the top of the tooth.Infection and inflammation (swollen,red gums) can cause pain, swelling, and jaw stiffness. The infection can causebad breath and an unpleasant taste.

Swallowing may be painful. The person may feel generally unwell.

Your dentist may gently clean the infected area around the tooth. You may be advised to rinse your mouth often with a warm saltwater mouthwash. Use one teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. The water should be as warm as possible, but not too hot.

Your dentist may also suggest a disinfectant mouthwash and a pain killer. Your dentist may prescribe antibiotics.

If it lower wisdom tooth is infected, it can be made worse by the upper wisdom tooth biting clown on to the gums. The patient can be helped by removal of the upper wisdom tooth.

In rare cases, an injured nerve may heal poorly, and pain may persist or recur without diminishing. This can happen even though the dental surgery was successful and all care was taken to avoid injury to major nerves. It is not known why some nerves react this way. The pain in these cases can sometimes be difficult to treat.

When a wisdom tooth is removed, the tooth or filling next to it may be chipped or loosened. This is rare.

A wisdom tooth may push nearby teeth out of their correct position.

The jawbone of the modern human is smaller than our ancient cousins. What this means is that when the wisdom tooth comes though it can have an effect of pushing the other teeth forward. This can lead to a crowding of the font of the mouth which can have negative effects. These problems could include forcing the front teeth out of line and negatively affecting a person’s smile.

If a wisdom tooth is not removed, a sac of fluid called a cyst can form around the tooth and may displace the tooth. The cyst can destroy bone and damage other teeth and the gums. Cyst formation around unerupted teeth is fairly common.

Wisdom teeth often develop cysts. Although cysts are not exclusive to wisdom teeth, wisdom teeth are more prone to having them. Cysts can often lead to the formation of an abscess which is a collection of pus. Cysts and abscesses can cause a great deal of pain as well as damage the surrounding gum tissue and teeth.

Cysts can develop around any of your teeth but your wisdom teeth are especially prone to them. Cysts are not only painful but can also lead to damaging your other teeth or causing your jaw bone to become infected. This can lead to more serious surgery to fix the problem.

Wisdom teeth are not required to handle today’s lifestyle and they really serve no purpose. They therefore cause more problems than they are worth. Consult with your dentist to see whether or not early removal of your wisdom teeth is a good option for you. It may help you prevent damaging your teeth and often expensive surgery in the future

An upper wisdom tooth may push sideways out of the gum. It may cause an ulcer where it rubs against the inside of the cheek.

Food becomes trapped between the wisdom tooth and the molar next to it.This can cause cavities in both teeth.