Is there a chance that you will still have your wisdom teeth? If so, you may wonder if they should be extracted. Some people simply do not have wisdom teeth, but the majority of those who do need them extracted. About 75% of people need to have their wisdom teeth removed. Keeping this in mind, read on to discover a few common reasons for this procedure and some warning signs to watch out for shared by our 60467 oral surgeon.

Wisdom teeth often don’t have the space to grow properly and create problems for your other teeth. By taking X-rays and scanning your mouth and jaw, dentists and oral surgeons can predict problems with your wisdom teeth before they occur, so you may not feel pain when they recommend having them removed.

Wisdom teeth can erupt at various angles, sometimes horizontally, and can lead to a variety of complications, including:

• Being completely hidden inside the jaw and becoming impacted. It is sometimes possible that impacted wisdom teeth can cause pathologies such as cysts and tumors.
• The teeth only emerge partially through the gums, which creates a passageway for bacteria. Partially emerged wisdom teeth provide an opportunity for bacteria to grow, which increases the chances of gum disease or infection.
• Crowding the nearby teeth. Wisdom teeth may crowd other teeth or damage them if they don’t have enough space when they emerge.

Do so-called “healthy” wisdom teeth need to be removed?

Regardless of whether your wisdom teeth come through normally or have been detected on x-rays and seem to pose no problem, you should still consider wisdom tooth removal to avoid future dental problems. Wisdom teeth may reposition themselves at any time while embedded in the gum tissue. These situations can quickly lead to impaction and infection.

Additionally, wisdom teeth are more likely than other teeth to develop cavities. They are located very far back in the mouth and are therefore difficult to reach. People tend to have difficulties brushing and flossing their wisdom teeth properly, so they develop cavities more rapidly than other teeth.

Here are some warning signs that you should be on the lookout for.

• You’re having trouble opening your mouth.
• An ongoing problem with bad breath
• Jaw pain or stiffness.
• Gums that are swollen, tender, or bleeding.
• It’s tough to chew.

You should schedule an appointment with an oral surgeon if you notice any of these warning signs. From there, they can take a look at what’s going on beneath the surface and perform a visual exam. Depending on their findings, they might recommend having your wisdom teeth removed. Remember, you can be symptom-free yet still require wisdom tooth removal. This is why biannual dental checkups and cleanings are so important. Routine dental visits allow your dentist to monitor any changes, particularly with wisdom teeth.

Our oral surgery office is experienced in the safe and comfortable removal of wisdom teeth. We invite you to schedule an appointment to our Orland Park, IL oral surgery office today.

Smoking and chewing tobacco can certainly cause serious health problems, particularly for the lungs, but they can also cause extensive, alarming damage to your teeth and gums. You may find that it is tough to break habits, but our oral surgeon in Orland Park agrees that breaking this habit will prove to be beneficial in more ways than one. 

Using tobacco products can lead to gum disease by affecting your teeth’s attachment to bone and soft tissue. In particular, smoking may impair the normal function of gum tissue cells. The interference makes smokers more susceptible to infections, including periodontal disease; it also seems to impair blood flow to the gums, making wound healing more difficult as well. Smokers are likely to experience bone loss, which may eventually require oral surgery to correct.

Chewing tobacco

According to a recent study conducted by the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), chewing tobacco users are 50 times more likely to develop malignant diseases in their gums and cheeks. In addition to causing gum problems, chewing tobacco also causes roots to become exposed, resulting in sensitivity. This provides the perfect environment for bacteria to grow, resulting in tooth decay. The use of chewing tobacco may also impair one’s sense of taste and smell, lead to bad breath and mouth sores, and may lead to gum disease.

Smoking

One pack of cigarettes a day can result in the loss of two teeth every decade, according to a study by the Academy of General Dentistry. Tobacco products, including cigarettes and cigars, adversely affect oral health. In addition to causing oral health problems, smoking can also cause cancer in the throat, esophagus, and stomach. Nicotine and tar from cigarettes can also enter your teeth through cracks and become embedded there. As a result, you will develop stains on your teeth that you will not be able to remove with normal brushing.

Cancerous growths can be found in a variety of locations in the mouth, including the tongue, lips, mouth floor, and gums. Although oral cancer is much more common in people over 50, recent studies have shown that oral cancer is also on the rise among people under 30. 

The use of nicotine results in significant bone loss in many of our oral surgery patients, requiring a bone graft. The removal of cancerous lesions in the mouth is another common oral surgery procedure due to nicotine use. If you have ever used nicotine or use it currently, please contact our office to schedule an appointment to our oral surgery office in Orland Park, IL so that we may perform a full oral cancer screening.