Wisdom Tooth Dentist in Bay Area, San Jose, CA

Wisdom teeth did not get their name for making you smarter, it got their name as they usually come in when you get older, on average around the age of 17 to 21. Wisdom teeth are found in the very back of the mouth, two are found on the top, and two are found on the bottom. They are often the final set of molars that you get in the mouth once your adult teeth start to come in.

Wisdom teeth are known as molars, they are some of the toughest, and widest teeth that you have in your mouth that grind food. Molars (wisdom teeth) are one of the most commonly missing teeth in adults’ mouths.

If a wisdom tooth like any other tooth has signs of issues or disease, it should come out. A few of the reasons that they may need to be removed include:

• Cavities
• Infection
• Abnormal-looking tissue
• Damage to a nearby tooth/teeth
• Bone loss around the roots
• Isn’t enough room to properly brush and floss around the tooth

Once a year, your dentist should be recommending that you complete an x-ray to evaluate the teeth, as well if you haven’t had your wisdom teeth come in yet, or haven’t had them previously removed, they will look for the presence and alignment of your wisdom teeth. Your dentist may also decide if you will need an oral surgeon for further evaluation depending on the results that are viewed from the x-ray.

Depending on how your wisdom teeth are coming in, will depend if a recommendation will be given about your wisdom teeth and whether they need to be extracted before more issues begin to develop. Wisdom teeth extractions are often only recommended if you want to avoid a more complicated or painful extraction procedure due to the wisdom teeth coming in at a wrong angle, they are causing issues to the other teeth, or anything else. Removal of wisdom teeth is commonly easier in younger people, as the wisdom teeth’s roots are not fully developed, and the bone is much less dense. If completed in older people, the recovery time and healing will often be much longer.

There has been reported a lot of evidence showcasing that the recommended removal of wisdom teeth is quite unnecessary. Evidence shows that these third molars or wisdom teeth are better to have for the patient instead of being removed.

Dentists are now doing assessments on their patient’s teeth and concluding, that if they do not have a good clinical reason to remove the wisdom teeth, then the patient can keep them. So often, dentists were removing wisdom teeth as a “just in case” style of thinking, while this has become overkill, many are now following studies that are showing leaving the wisdom teeth in is not doing any harm, when removing them is quite unnecessary.

The cost of your wisdom teeth removal will be determined by a few factors, these factors may include:

• How difficult the surgery will be to remove the wisdom teeth
• The type of anesthetic that will be best suited for you during your appointment
• The location of the clinic
• If you have insurance that will cover the cost of wisdom teeth removal, and if the clinic accepts insurance

During your consultation appointment, we will review the x-rays, complete a full examination, and move forward with choosing the type of anesthesia that will work best for you. After the consult, we will provide an estimate of what it will cost for removal so you have time to schedule the appointment or contact your insurance to ensure they will pay for a portion or full coverage of the wisdom teeth removal appointment.

Typically, wisdom teeth often begin to break through the gums during the late teenage years, and even into the early twenties. However, these molars often begin to work much earlier than we imagine. Often between the ages of 7 to 10, they start to form and grow with calcification, this is where the crown begins to form. After the root develops the tooth will then emerge through the gums. The entire tooth process of development can take up to several years to complete, and the timing of it all can vary greatly from one to another.

There are a few signs of wisdom teeth erupting, including minor discomfort which will go away once your wisdom teeth end up finally coming through. While others may experience no symptoms at all, every individual will deal with varying symptoms. Other signs of wisdom tooth eruption include soreness or pain, lingering jaw pain and/or swelling, a bad smell or taste within the mouth, crooked front teeth, and issues opening the mouth are the main noticeable symptoms. There are other signs that may occur including red, bleeding, swollen, or tender gums. If these symptoms do arise, it could be from the patient improperly cleaning the mouth, or infection is occurring due to the impaction of the wisdom teeth. We serve patients from all over Santa Clara County CA: San Jose Milpitas, Santa Clara, Campbell, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Saratoga, Los Gatos, and beyond!