Although most permanent teeth develop when a person is young, third molars, or wisdom teeth, are slow to arrive. Although regular trips to the dentist will keep your teeth in excellent shape, most people start to experience problems with their overall dental health when their wisdom teeth emerge. To better understand why extraction might be necessary, below is a brief guide to what your dentist will tell you about third molars and how to address problems with discomfort.   

Everything You Need to Know About Wisdom Teeth

They Appear Later in Life

Although wisdom teeth are associated more with discomfort than knowledge, they’re often called this because they appear once a person reaches early adulthood. Permanent teeth erupt in stages from the front to the back of the mouth. Molars are last to make an appearance, with the first ones coming in at age 6 or 7. Second molars form at 12 or 13 years old. Most people start to notice their wisdom teeth pushing through the gums between the ages of 17 and 25. 

They Cause Oral Health Problems

Your third molars are large, which means they move other teeth out of place so they can grow. When teeth are misaligned, it makes it difficult to chew food, causing digestive problems. Food can also get trapped between the shifting molars, increasing your risk of cavities or gum disease. Also, when these molars are impacted, other teeth might be blocking them from breaking through gums, which causes pain. Throbbing toothaches, jaw swelling, and headaches are often associated with wisdom tooth eruption.   

Surgery Might be Necessary to Remedy Discomfort

In most cases, a dentist will recommend having these molars extracted to ward off infection and restore dental health. Patients are given a local anesthetic before the surgical procedure, with follow-up visits to monitor how the wounds are healing.   

If your wisdom teeth are causing you pain, Eric J Hartzell, DMD in High Point, NC, will provide surgical extraction to improve your quality of life, while reducing the risk of infection and additional dental problems later. To schedule an appointment in the Piedmont Triad region, call (336) 886-8776 to speak with the friendly receptionist. Visit the dentist online to discover how his team will care for your teeth, and like the practice on Facebook for tips on improving your dental health.