Knowing where your third molars are in their development can help you decide to extract them when the time is ready. While some people never develop this last set of teeth, they can cause significant problems with your bite and its alignment if they do appear. Because they tend to erupt in your late teens or early twenties, regularly attending the dentist during this period allows you to monitor their progress. At each trip to your dentist, imaging can show where they are located. This helps us predict if they will first comfortably in your mouth or threaten to crowd your existing molars. Simply put, there is often not enough room for another set.
At your Cerritos, CA dental practice, we can help you keep track of the growth of your wisdom teeth during adolescence. Because crowding can crack your teeth and push them out of the proper position, we will let you know if they risk damaging your smile. By staying on top of their movement, we can extract them when necessary to preserve your healthy smile!
We Take Images Of Your Developing Jaw Regularly
Until you reach maturity, your visits to the dentist will focus on monitoring the healthy development of your teeth, jaw, and other oral tissues. During your first trips to the dentist, we go over healthy brushing and flossing techniques to preserve your smile in between in-office cleanings. Similarly, we provide for a lifetime of healthy smiles by creating dental records that track the growth of your jaw and the arrival and departure of your teeth. These X-rays help us determine if your third molars are coming in at an appropriate angle. We are also able to predict if your jaw has enough space to comfortably fit these new teeth. If your wisdom teeth come in crooked or crowd into existing teeth, your bite risks misaligning. This can lead to a host of oral health problems, such as increasing your risk for tooth decay and gum disease.
Removing Your Wisdom Teeth
If we decide to extract your third molars, we begin by administering anesthetics and sedation appropriate for the procedure. We then remove your teeth using special tools. We will take special care to pack your sockets and give instructions on recovering safely. Taking care to avoid damaging your socket will help you heal and reduce your discomfort during your recovery.
Speak With Your Cerritos, CA Dentist About Monitoring Your Third Molars
If your jaw is too small to receive your wisdom teeth, regular imaging of your mouth will let you know before you experience a painful eruption. By extracting these teeth before they come through, you can prevent damage to your smile. For more information on this procedure and to schedule an appointment, call your Cerritos, CA dentist’s office at (562)584-4082!
