Caring for your smile is a lifelong process. Indeed, from the moment your first tooth makes its arrival, your oral health as at risk of infection from a variety of bacteria, germs, and more. In order to obtain a lifelong bill of health, your dentist recommends a thorough preventive dental routine be established as soon as possible. Still, sometimes the biggest concern does not necessarily have to do with outside factors, but rather, your own components of your smile. In today’s blog, your Auburn Hills, MI dentist discusses the manner in which your wisdom teeth affect your bite, as well as what your treatment options may be.
They Can Throw Off Your Bite’s Balance
Most everyone is familiar with the smile development process by the time they reach adulthood. This process explains that an infant/toddler will develop teeth, and that these structures will be replaced by bigger, more permanent teeth as the child grows older. By about the age of 10, most children will have the majority of their adult teeth.
The process does not stop there, however. In fact, your last structures to develop include your wisdom teeth. What’s more? They develop at the back of your smile with two on top and two on the bottom.
The problem arises, however, when wisdom teeth do not erupt in an ideal position. For example, say the tooth came in at an angle that is now putting stress on your other structures. This overcrowding can cause your neighboring structures to grow in a suboptimal direction. Further, this can lead to structural complications and difficulty eating. To learn more about this process, reach out to our team today.
A Need for Extraction
In addition to crowding, your wisdom teeth can increase your chances of developing a major infection. For example, say a tooth has only partially erupted. The pocket created by the tooth breaking the gum’s surface can act as a doorway for oral bacteria to work their way beneath the gum line.
To avoid this heightened risk of infection, your dentist may recommend a dental extraction to provide your other structures the space to thrive. You see, wisdom structures are not an integral part of your smile, and your oral function can actually improve without them. Give our team a call to learn more.
They Don’t Always Cause Complications
Although it is common for your wisdom teeth to develop incorrectly and warrant the need for removal, not everyone requires an extraction. Indeed, sometimes a person’s wisdom teeth may erupt in the correct position without overcrowding neighboring structures. In cases such as this, your dentist may not recommend removal.
Learn More Today
Contact Advanced Dental Concepts in Auburn Hills, MI by calling 248-852-1820 to learn more about the ways wisdom teeth can influence your smile’s health, and schedule your next appointment with our team today.
