When should you get your wisdom teeth checked?
You should have your wisdom teeth evaluated by a dentist or oral surgeon around the ages of 16 to 19, or as soon as they begin to emerge, to anticipate and prevent potential problems. You should schedule an appointment immediately if you experience any pain or symptoms at any age.
General Guidelines for Evaluation:
Rountine check-ups: Regular dental check-ups, including X-rays during the teenage years, allow a dentist to monitor the development, position, and potential for impaction of your wisdom teeth, often before any symptoms arise.
Optimal timing: Many dental professionals recommend removing problematic wisdom teeth in the late teens or early twenties because the roots are less developed, the jaw bone is less dense, and the recovery is generally faster and less complicated than in older adults.
Preventative Approach: An early evaluation can help prevent future issues like crowding of adjacent teeth, damage to the jawbone and infections.
When to see a dentist:
Contact your dentist or oral surgeon as soon as possible if you notice any of the following signs or symptoms, as they could indicate an infection or impaction that requires prompt attention:
Pain and discomfort: Persistent or severe pain in the back of your mouth, jaw, or face that may radiate to your ears or neck.
Swelling and inflammation: red, swollen, or tender gums around the area where the wisdom teeth emerge.
Jaw stiffness: Difficulty opening your mouth fully or pain when biting or chewing.
Infection: Repeated infections, a fever, pus, or swollen glands in your neck or shoulder.
Bad breath or unpleasant taste: Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth, which can be caused by trapped food and bacteria in hard-to-clean areas.
Visible issues: Signs of tooth decay in a decay in a wisdom tooth or an adjacent molar, or if your other teeth start to shift or become crowded.
Sinus issues: Pain, pressure, or congestion in your sinuses, as the upper wisdom tooth roots can sometimes affect the sinus floor.
Ignoring these signs can lead to more serious dental problems and potentially more complicated surgery later in life.
At the Smile Team, we provide our clients with the best treatment options for them so book a consultation with Dr. Abid Hidayat today. We are open Mondays to Saturdays and speak GUJARATI, HINDI, URDU, TAGALOG and ARABIC. You can reach our family dental care office in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, by calling 416-546-5599.