This four-part article series provides an in-depth review of wisdom teeth, what they are and what the procedure and recovery process involves in their removal.

Welcome to the second installment of this four-part article series on wisdom teeth. In Part 1, Silver Spring dentists explained that they are the third set of molars, which typically emerge from the jawbone between age 18 and 25. It was also explained that, owing to the fact that our jawbones have become smaller and slimmer over the millennia, wisdom teeth seldom emerge without complication for the overlying gums and neighboring dentition. As a result, dentists typically recommend their extraction before they have a chance to cause a patient pain or do permanent damage.

In this article, we shall be looking at the various problems wisdom teeth can cause for Silver Spring residents before moving on to the procedures behind their extraction.

Common Problems Associated with Wisdom Teeth

As it was explained in Part 1 of this article series, our modern day jaws are typically too small to accommodate a third set of molars, which is why so many people experience dental problems when they emerge. These problems range in severity and some include:

Wisdom teeth misalignment: "It's not uncommon for the third molars to emerge at an angle away from or towards the second molars”. “We’ve also had patients whose wisdom teeth have emerged from the gums horizontally! This can apply pressure to the entire dental arch, causing overcrowding. Badly aligned wisdom teeth can also damage the jawbone, the adjacent teeth and the nerves, causing much pain for the patient.”

Impacted wisdom teeth: “Wisdom teeth can become trapped underneath the second molars, effectively preventing them from fully emerging from the jawbone and/or gums,” explain dentists from Silver Spring. “By preventing the timely emergence of the tooth, bacteria have more of an opportunity to settle into the folds of the gum tissue that has split open. This increases a patient’s risk of infection and painful abscesses, the symptoms of which include jaw stiffness, severe pain and sensitivity and even general sickness. Impacted wisdom teeth are also more vulnerable to tooth decay and the surrounding gums to infection and disease.”

For these reasons, dentists in Silver Spring will keep a careful eye on emerging wisdom teeth (both from visible examination and X-rays) to ensure that a patient is not susceptible to these problems. In many cases, a dentist will opt to extract wisdom teeth to prevent risks in the first place.

Wisdom Teeth Removal: What Does the Procedure Entail?

The method followed to remove wisdom teeth really depends upon their positioning and the stage of their emergence from the gums and jawbone. If a wisdom tooth is emerging with relative ease and has fully erupted from the gums, a straightforward tooth extraction procedure can be performed in a Silver Spring dentist’s office and with only a local anesthetic. On the other hand, if a wisdom tooth is misaligned and/or impacted – i.e. still contained within the jawbone – a more complex procedure will be needed to remove it. In these cases, a quick and painless surgery is often recommended.

Stay Tuned for Part 3

To read more about the procedures required to extract wisdom teeth and the recovery experience Silver Spring patients can expect, stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series.