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Regular teeth cleaning appointments are pivotal in ensuring the best possible health for your teeth and gums. Not only are plaque and tartar removed during these visits, but X-rays are also taken and the condition of your teeth is monitored. If a patient still has all or some of their wisdom teeth, teeth cleaning appointments are a great way for a dentist to make sure they are not impacted or infected.

The dentists and staff of Family First Dentistry in Anchorage, AK, regularly instruct their patients on the benefits of routine teeth cleaning appointments. Any and all impacted wisdom teeth are closely examined and monitored by the team through X-rays and oral examinations. In most cases, if an impacted wisdom tooth is found, patients can schedule an appointment for sedation dentistry to have the tooth removed.

Teeth Cleaning Wisdom teeth are commonly removed because although they may be located beneath the surface of the gums, third molars can still get cavities, abscesses, cysts, suffer from gum disease, and damage adjacent teeth through crowding. In order to avoid a visit to the emergency dentist, many people opt to be proactive and have their wisdom teeth removed. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons recommends young adults between the ages of 17 and 25 have their wisdom teeth evaluated for extraction.

It’s important to note that not all wisdom teeth are impacted. There are some people who have all four of their wisdom teeth, while others have at least two of their third molars come in somewhat crooked or completely straight. In those cases, it’s even more important to schedule teeth cleaning appointments, as plaque and decay are more prominent in those areas. Some people are even born with no wisdom teeth at all, or at least will not have a full set of them.

There are not always symptoms associated with impacted wisdom teeth. If there is pain with impaction, it usually stems from an infection within the gum that lies on top of the tooth. Common symptoms include pain, swollen and bleeding gums, swelling around the jaw, bad breath, headache, jaw ache, or an unpleasant taste when eating. In severe cases, the jaw stiffens and lymph nodes in the neck swell. An emergency dental visit is needed if any of these symptoms appear. Regular teeth cleanings and X-rays, however, help in the early detection of impacted wisdom teeth.

To learn more about Family First Dentistry or to schedule an appointment, visit their website or call their office at (907) 562-2820. You can also connect with the team on Facebook and Twitter.

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