Dentist Rockford IL | Why Do I Need My Wisdom Teeth Removed?

About 10 million wisdom teeth are removed each year from 5 million people. Oral surgery to remove wisdom teeth is a standard procedure that is practiced every day.  After visiting your dentist, he or she may recommend to get your wisdom teeth removed. However, you may wonder why you need them removed even though they don’t cause pain.

Just because your wisdom teeth are not a source of pain doesn’t mean that there is nothing wrong. Most of the time, wisdom teeth need to be removed because they don’t have room to grow properly and may cause problems. Other reasons include:

Damage to other teeth: Impacted wisdom teeth can shift other teeth as they continue to grow. This can undo the effects of braces, crowns, bridges and partial dentures. It can also cause mouth pain and bite problems.

Sinus issues: Problems with wisdom teeth can lead to sinus pain, pressure and congestion.

Jaw damage: Impacted wisdom teeth may develop cysts or tumors. If they aren’t treated, they can hollow out your jaw and cause damage to nerves.

Inflamed gums: Because there is limited space for wisdom teeth to erupt, infection and inflammation may be common. Gum disease and inflammation can lead to receding gum tissues, deterioration of the jawbone and tooth loss.

Cavities: Your wisdom teeth are more susceptible to cavities since it is more difficult to clean them. Bacteria can grow, which causes cavities to form.

Before deciding on getting your wisdom teeth removed, your dentist will look at the shape of your mouth and the position of your teeth. In addition, he or she will take x-rays to determine the growth pattern of your wisdom teeth.

There is no age limit to getting your wisdom teeth removed but as you get older, surgery and recovery can be more difficult.  In most instances, you can wait several months to see if anything changes in your wisdom teeth before making a final decision. However, if you experience pain or swelling near the back of your teeth, contact our dentist in Rockford for a consultation.

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   Daniel P. Weyrauch, DDS   

     1075 Featherstone Rd      Rockford,      IL      61107    

   Phone: (815) 399-4379    URL of Map

Warning Signs in Your Oral Health by Dr. Weyrauch

Warning Signs in Your Oral Health

It’s always important to keep an eye out for issues when providing care for your gums and teeth. You are the first line of defense when it comes to you’re daily cleaning routine.

Dental cleanings and checkups are imperative because serious health conditions can be noticed early. Some symptoms that are silently developing in your mouth could lead to more serious conditions. These symptoms include:

• Unusual patches, lesions or inflammation
• Red swollen or bleeding gums
• Pain in gums, teeth and jaw
• Bad breath
• Loose or the loss of teeth

Notify your Rockford dentist if you see any changes in your teeth and gums during, while, and after brushing your teeth. Swift reaction to early symptoms could be important so your dentist can provide a thorough examination and treatment. If these issues are noticed early, your dentist can prevent more serious health risks.

Below are 5 common warning signs to look out for:

Unusual Patches, Lesions or Inflammation

A white or yellow canker sore could be benign. You don’t want to take any chances without seeing your Rockford, IL dentist. Ignoring these issues could be more serious than expected. These unusual patches, lesions or inflammation could cause oral fungal infection or other sever health issues.

One of the most common forms of cancer in the United States is oral cancer. Typically people who ingest heavy amounts of tobacco and alcohol see symptoms of small white or red lesions in the mouth.

Oral cancer signals include:

• Trouble with bleeding sores that don’t heal
• Tissue that is discolored
• Numbness
• Mouth cheeks, neck or head with irregular tissue or lumps
• Problems with teeth alignment

See your dentist if any of these symptoms are detected so they can take immediate action.

Red Swollen or Bleeding Gums

If you are experiencing aches in your mouth and bleeding gums, then you may have a form of gum disease. Those who have diabetes are more prone to developing gum disease. Diabetes and other health issues could decrease how the body fights different infections.

The gums could be vulnerable to plaque (which lives in bacteria) and it could cause inflammation. Other symptoms may be parched mouth, bad breath or oral fungal infections.

Pain in Gums, Teeth and Jaw

These symptoms typically are signs of stress. Stress can be the catalyst of several physical and mental illnesses.

By contacting your dentist in Rockford, IL, he or she can provide a dental solution for toothache, sinus or gum disease.

Bad Breath

The food and drinks you consume could result in bad breath or dry mouth. Another contributing reason that bad breath continues could be the effect of gum disease or gingivitis.

Recurring bad breath may need immediate medical attention. Without proper treatment, you could develop health conditions that include:

• Diabetes
• Kidney or liver disease
• Infection of the lungs
• Sinus infections
• Gastrointestinal issues

Loose Teeth or the Loss of Teeth

When gum disease is more advanced, teeth could become loose, move or fall out. The loss of a tooth could be the first sign of osteoporosis (the weakening of your bone density).

Osteoporosis, which is typically found in elderly individuals, is linked to bone loss in the jaw. Nearly one-third of adults that are 65 and older, experience tooth loss.

On average, nearly 10 million Americans don’t receive the proper care for osteoporosis. This occurs because the condition is undiagnosed until a bone is fractured or broken.

Women are three times more likely to lose a tooth if they have osteoporosis. With a balanced diet, proper exercise and regular visits to your doctor, osteoporosis could be diagnosed and treated before anything serious happens.

All of these issues should not be ignored. Your oral and physical health could be at stake if action is not taken.

Refer to your dentist in Rockford if you’ve noticed any of these symptoms. Be sure to schedule regular appointments to learn more about your oral health and to prevent against gum disease.

By Dr. Daniel Weyrauch

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