Every year, about 5 million Americans have their wisdom teeth removed, according to some of the latest statistical research. That works out to about 10 million wisdom teeth extracted annually in the United States alone.
That’s a lot of teeth.
While it might seem like an odd thing to picture in your head, there’s a plus side: With that many tooth extractions happening each year, it means that one of the most frightening and stereotypically painful dental procedures is actually a routine and commonplace event that can save you more pain and money in the long run.
So despite your fears, you’ll be in good company and in even better hands at Newingham Dental Center, where our highly skilled staff specialize in wisdom teeth removal and other dental emergencies with minimum discomfort and maximum results.
Do I Need My Wisdom Teeth Removed?
That’s a good question, and one that’s usually answered in a couple of different ways.
For starters, if you’re experiencing pain in the rear of your jaws, you may be suffering from an infected or possibly impacted wisdom molar, which we’ll get to later.
The next and most important step eliminates both the guesswork and the pain, and that’s to schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible before the situation gets worse. Our staff will quickly and decisively determine the root of the pain, and begin immediate preparations to take care of it for you or for your adolescent .
Wisdom teeth get their name due to the age in which they start to develop, usually between the so-called ages of “wisdom,” at 17-25 years-old, when adolescents begin to develop a more mature understanding of the world—which might be ironic if you’ve been raising kids in the era of smartphones.
More scientifically, wisdom teeth are a third set of molars that we understand to be a “throwback” to earlier times in human history. A long time ago, our primitive diets had us eating quite a bit of tough and nasty things in order to survive. We needed those extra teeth to chew the kinds of foods we were eating back then.
Today, however, when you can order a pizza on that smartphone, there’s no need for a set of prehistoric nut-crackers causing trouble.
If you or your adolescent are experiencing this type of pain, you can’t afford to wait to take care of it. This is especially true if the wisdom tooth is impacted. This means that, as it is begins to emerge from the gum line, it’s growing in sideways, pushing against the other teeth and causing that throbbing pain.
No Room on The Bus
Think of it like a rude passenger on a crowded bus. Every person he pushes past knocks into another passenger, who is pushed against yet another passenger, and so on, causing a chain-reaction where everyone suffers.
As there’s no room on the bus for a pesky passenger like that, there’s no room in your mouth for wisdom teeth if they are causing issues.
If you delay in letting us help you solve the problem, the continued presence of wisdom teeth can begin compacting your other teeth, making them more likely to suffer from additional ailments, like tooth decay, and are harder to properly clean, which can lead to gum disease.
And if you wait too long, then more extreme, corrective measures may need to be taken to get your smile back into shape—all of which can be easily avoided if you do something about it now, not later.
We can kick that unruly passenger to the curb for you, and as soon as possible. In the event of any dental emergency like sudden wisdom tooth pain, we can see you and treat you on the same day that you call. That’s because we believe in putting our patients first, and getting you the help you need, when you need it.
If you’re in the Birmingham, Royal Oak, Bloomfield Hills, Troy or Franklin areas and your mouth is feeling like a crowded bus, don’t let the problem get any worse.
Call us at 248-972-8720 or click here to begin scheduling an appointment with us online. Don’t hesitate to call us and schedule a same day emergency appointment to get your smile back on the right side of the road.
And don’t worry if your emergency happens outside of the usual 9-5: I understand that life happens, and your call will automatically go to me, Dr. Justin. From there, we can immediately set up a course of action to get you or your adolescent the treatment that’s needed, and that works with your circumstances.
There’s no wisdom in needless pain, so contact us today!
