It is a fact that no patient enjoys dental extractions. The needles, the anesthesia, the “pressure,” the post-op, and many other features make this dental procedure particularly unpleasant. That’s why most patients postpone the decision of removing their wisdom teeth until they hurt or cause further dental problems. But at Hill Country Oral Surgery in Austin, TX, we want to transmit the benefits of having these teeth extracted on time.

Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth (also known as third molars) are the last teeth of the dental arch. They typically erupt when between the ages of 27 and 25. Few lucky patients have no complications, and their molars take their place in the dental arch as any other tooth. However, the eruption of third molars usually brings multiple dental problems for the rest of the population, particularly when they don’t have enough space to come out.

When there’s not enough space in the dental arch for third molars, they start erupting at the wrong angle or position, if they can come out at all. This has detrimental effects on the rest of the teeth. Wisdom teeth begin pushing the adjacent molar to gain more space, which can damage the second molars and misalign the front teeth.

It is no secret that the eruption of wisdom teeth can have a negative impact on the rest of the dentition. Still, most patients don’t know that wisdom teeth can also affect the gums. As mentioned before, third molars come out only partially and at an incorrect position on many occasions. This makes it really difficult to keep the area clean and free of food rests and debris, which triggers the build-up of dental plaque on the surface of the back teeth. Over time, if the dental plaque is not correctly removed, the bacteria will attack the gum tissue surrounding the third molar, causing inflammation and stabbing pain.

The two main consequences of third molars on soft tissues are:

Third Molar Pain

The dreaded “third molar pain” it’s not caused by the wisdom tooth in itself: it’s provoked by the inflammation of the gums. This inflammation is known as “pericoronitis,” and those patients who have suffered from it would agree that the pain triggered by this inflammatory process is extreme.

Periodontal Disease

Luckily, not all patients suffer from pericoronitis. But the same bacteria that causes this condition can still affect the gum tissue and trigger periodontal disease. If this disease is left untreated, it can cause severe gum retractions and even bone resorption, leading to tooth loss over time.

Get the Care You Need at Hill Country Oral Surgery

The best way to prevent these two conditions is to get your wisdom teeth out before it causes any problems. Our team at Hill Country Oral Surgery has vast experience in third molar extractions and perform surgeries that are as pain-free and minimally invasive as possible. If you have any doubts about the procedure or your particular case, do not hesitate to contact our receptionists to schedule a consultation with one of our specialists!