Earth Essences.Com

Wisdom teeth - the signs that you need them removed

A top dentist has revealed the real truth behind our wisdom teeth - and the tell-tale signs you probably need to go under the knife to have them removed. Many people begin to see their last molars come through in their late teens or early 20s, while for others they never come through at all.

Getty Images Wisdom teeth can cause problems

But problems with wisdom teeth can lead to a whole host of unpleasant side effects, such as infection, overcrowded teeth and intense pain, that can make it necessary to have them removed completely. Dr Baresh Eyrumlu, of private dental firm Banning Dental Group, said: “The arrival of wisdom teeth is a normal part of life and for most people they shouldn’t cause any problems.

“However, for some they can cause a range of issues such as overcrowding of existing teeth, infection of the tooth and gum and even damage to surrounding teeth. They can trigger intense pain and swelling if the tooth is impacted or infected, and it then becomes necessary to have them removed.

“The eruption of wisdom teeth doesn’t have to become a big problem if action is taken early, but it’s important to look out for the warning signs that something is not quite right.”

Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that come through later in life, and while it’s common for people to see them come through between 18 and 25, some people experience it later in life or even never at all. In some cases, they can take years to fully erupt through the gum, and when they get trapped they can cause problems.

It is still a little unclear exactly why we have them, but some experts believe it’s because our ancestors needed them to survive on a diet which heavily featured hard items such as roots and nuts. Historically, our jaws were wider back then and that allowed wisdom teeth to erupt easily.

The eruption of wisdom teeth can bring a range of painful problems if they emerge at a strange angle and put pressure on surrounding teeth. This can happen when there is insufficient space in the mouth and often leads to surgical removal.

Signs that an immediate trip to the dentist may be needed include swelling around the jaw, pain or bleeding in the gums or ulcers in the cheeks. Some people will also experience an unpleasant taste in the mouth and even bad breath if the tooth shows signs of an infection.

The clinician will x-ray the gum to determine how the teeth are growing and it may become necessary to have a short surgical procedure to have them removed. In some cases it is necessary to have them removed in hospital with sedation, but often a trained dentist is able to carry out the treatment.

This often involves an injection of local anaesthetic and a small cut to the gums to gain access to the tooth and its roots with local anaesthetics. The dentist may then break the tooth down into smaller parts to remove it completely and in many cases the whole procedure will be over in as little as 20 minutes.

Experts always advise that you should make an appointment with your dentist if you begin to experience problems with your wisdom teeth coming through so that some x-rays can be taken. Banning Dental Group was established by specialists Dr Azad Eyrumlu and Dr Honar Shakir to offer affordable treatment to private patients after noticing a chronic shortage of accessible dental care.

Reference: Hull Live: Steven Smith