This four-part article series provides an in-depth review of wisdom teeth, what they are and what the procedure and recovery process involves in their removal.

1. Silver Spring Dentists Discuss the A to Z of Wisdom Teeth, PART 2
This four-part article series provides an in-depth review of wisdom teeth, what they
are and what the procedure and recovery process involves in their removal.
Welcome to the second installment of this four-part article series on wisdom teeth. In Part 1,
Silver Spring dentists explained that they are the third set of molars, which typically emerge
from the jawbone between age 18 and 25. It was also explained that, owing to the fact that our
jawbones have become smaller and slimmer over the millennia, wisdom teeth seldom emerge
without complication for the overlying gums and neighboring dentition. As a result, dentists
typically recommend their extraction before they have a chance to cause a patient pain or do
permanent damage.
In this article, we shall be looking at the various problems wisdom teeth can cause for Silver
Spring residents before moving on to the procedures behind their extraction.
Common Problems Associated with Wisdom Teeth
As it was explained in Part 1 of this article series, our modern day jaws
are typically too small to accommodate a third set of molars, which is
why so many people experience dental problems when they emerge.
These problems range in severity and some include:
Wisdom teeth misalignment: "It's not uncommon for the third
molars to emerge at an angle away from or towards the second molars”.
“We’ve also had patients whose wisdom teeth have emerged from the
gums horizontally! This can apply pressure to the entire dental arch,
causing overcrowding. Badly aligned wisdom teeth can also damage
the jawbone, the adjacent teeth and the nerves, causing much pain for
the patient.”

2. Impacted wisdom teeth: “Wisdom teeth can become trapped underneath the second molars,
effectively preventing them from fully emerging from the jawbone and/or gums,” explain
dentists from Silver Spring. “By preventing the timely emergence of the tooth, bacteria
have more of an opportunity to settle into the folds of the gum tissue that has split open. This
increases a patient’s risk of infection and painful abscesses, the symptoms of which include
jaw stiffness, severe pain and sensitivity and even general sickness. Impacted wisdom teeth
are also more vulnerable to tooth decay and the surrounding gums to infection and disease.”
For these reasons, dentists in Silver Spring will keep a careful eye on emerging wisdom teeth
(both from visible examination and X-rays) to ensure that a patient is not susceptible to these
problems. In many cases, a dentist will opt to extract wisdom teeth to prevent risks in the first
place.
Wisdom Teeth Removal: What Does the Procedure Entail?
The method followed to remove wisdom teeth really
depends upon their positioning and the stage of
their emergence from the gums and jawbone. If a
wisdom tooth is emerging with relative ease and
has fully erupted from the gums, a straightforward
tooth extraction procedure can be performed in a
Silver Spring dentist’s office and with only a local
anesthetic. On the other hand, if a wisdom tooth is
misaligned and/or impacted – i.e. still contained
within the jawbone – a more complex procedure
will be needed to remove it. In these cases, a quick and painless surgery is often
recommended.
Stay Tuned for Part 3
To read more about the procedures required to extract wisdom teeth and the recovery
experience Silver Spring patients can expect, stay tuned for the third installment of this
four-part article series.
Thanks for Reading