If you’re like most people, you’ll have your third molars (wisdom teeth) removed at some point in your life. And wisdom teeth removal in Batavia is available at many dental practices, including ours.

Perhaps you’ve already undergone this procedure and now your son or daughter is experiencing mouth discomfort due to these large third molars. Is the pain affecting their sleep? Are they having trouble eating?

What’s in a name? Our third molars are called wisdom teeth, because these teeth usually don’t make themselves known until the late teens or early 20s. Since the beginning of time, we’ve associated wisdom with age … and that’s really all there is to the name.

Current theory is that humans developed wisdom teeth to aid in the tough job of grinding foods during prehistoric times. People then also had a much larger jaw to accommodate four wisdom teeth – one in the back of each mouth quadrant. Over time, the diet of humans became more refined and wisdom teeth became obsolete.

You might ask, “But we were born with them, so why are wisdom teeth a problem?” Our jaws are considerably smaller than those of our ancestors, so by the time our permanent teeth (except for the wisdom teeth) have erupted into our mouth, they’ve taken all the space we have. Wisdom teeth have nowhere to go.

A partial eruption can lead to inflammation and infection of the soft tissue around the tooth. This inflammatory condition, known as “pericoronitis,” commonly occurs among young adults in their 20s, with about 81 percent of those affected being between 20 and 29 years old. The infection often occurs as a result of the development of a gum flap over the partially erupted tooth, which traps food and allows a buildup of bacteria that cause infection.

As a dentist in Batavia, we most-often recommend removing wisdom teeth as a safe and effective way of avoiding oral health problems that often accompany them, such as tooth decay, gum disease, cysts, and damaged teeth.

If you experience any of these symptoms, call Batavia Family Dental to speak with us about your options…

Jaw pain and swelling in the molar region
A bad taste in your mouth
Bad breath
Swollen, red, tender, or bleeding gums at the back of your mouth.

The importance of interception. Even if you don’t experience any of these symptoms … it’s important to see us for your regular hygiene and doctor checkup visits. We’ll review your medical history, examine your mouth, and take x-rays to predict whether your wisdom teeth may cause future discomfort and concern. Depending on what we find, removal of these teeth may be recommended.

Not always do all wisdom teeth have to be removed. In some cases, close monitoring and special cleaning techniques are enough to keep wisdom teeth in check… But the only way of knowing what action should be taken is by calling us – your trusted Batavia Family Dental team – for a thorough examination.

Don’t put your smile in jeopardy … call now!

Yours in dental health,
Dr. Steve Sokolovskiy, dentist in Batavia
P.S. Pericoronitis can be averted with regular dental checkups.