Many people question why the word “wisdom” is in “wisdom tooth”. The answer is actually quite straightforward. Wisdom teeth don’t normally begin to grow through until we are in our late teens and early twenties, and by that age it is assumed that we have acquired a degree of wisdom.
However, having extraction of wisdom teeth San Francisco doesn’t mean that you suddenly lose your wisdom! In fact, the opposite is more likely to be the case: it’s a wise thing to do because if you leave it, wisdom teeth can cause serious problems.
Wisdom teeth are the third and last molars on each side of the upper and lower jaws. They may only partially erupt – that is not grow out fully. They may also grow crooked or sideways, and a tooth like this is called “impacted”.
One of the problems with wisdom teeth San Francisco is that they can affect your perfectly healthy second molars by pushing against them as they grow. They can also easily become infected or decayed themselves because they are difficult to get at with your toothbrush. Sometimes cysts filled with fluid can form around the base of an infected wisdom tooth causing damage to gums, nearby teeth and your jawbone. Bacteria can also grow around the impacted tooth, again affecting the gums and surrounding teeth.
Regular Check-Ups with Your Dentist and a Referral to a Top San Francisco Oral Surgeon for Wisdom Teeth
It is worth having regular check-ups in order to ascertain whether your wisdom teeth are likely to cause a future problem, even if they are not currently doing any harm. According to the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, ninety per cent of young adults have at least one impacted wisdom tooth.
It may also be a good idea to have your wisdom teeth removed when you are younger rather than leaving them to develop unhealthily because the roots of the teeth are not fully developed and the bone around the teeth is not so dense, making it easier to extract them.
The doctor at our office, Dr Alex Rabinovich, is one of the top oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the whole of the US. He has written several white papers on oral and maxillofacial surgery and is often called upon to speak at dental conventions. He is an acknowledged expert on wisdom teeth San Francisco and is happy to offer any patient a free consult to check on the development of your wisdom teeth and offer his advice.
If you would like a professional opinion from Dr Rabinovich, simply call the office on (415) 817-9991 or click on the Contact Us link at the top of the page to book your free consult.