The reason many people need their wisdom teeth removed is because there isn’t enough room for all the teeth in your mouth. Wisdom teeth are your third molars, the last ones to come in after your other molars have shaped into your gums, taking all the space they need. Because they come in under such pressure, wisdom teeth end up causing problems by coming in at an angle, pushing your other teeth and disrupting the alignment of your teeth. Wisdom teeth removal is sometimes recommended before wisdom teeth begin causing problems but other times, it is after they’ve already come in and the problem is imminent.
If your wisdom teeth haven’t come in yet, you should be able to tell how much space there is in your mouth for them. Use a mirror to take a look inside your mouth, past your first and second molars. If you can fit a finger between your second molar and the back of your mouth, you just might have enough space for your wisdom teeth. Though this test can be useful, it is hard to know if your wisdom teeth are coming in straight, so for that, you will need your dentist’s opinion and dental x-rays to see what’s going on under the surface.
The only way to know for sure if you’ll need your wisdom teeth out is to consult your dentist. When meeting with your dentist about this procedure, be sure to ask questions so you can prepare for surgery. Some questions you should ask your dentist are:
If you need your wisdom teeth removed and you live in or around Aurora, Blue Island, Chicago-Austin, Chicago- United Center, or Joliet IL give us a call today to schedule a consultation! We accept most major insurance providers including Medicaid and have alternative payment plans to make sure wisdom tooth extraction is accessible to all patients.