Caring for an Elderly Parent With Special Dental Needs
3 Conditions That May Develop If Wisdom Teeth Are Not Extracted
Joe Lawrence
If you still have your wisdom teeth, your dentist may be suggesting that you have them extracted. Wisdom teeth are associated with multiple dental problems. Here are a few issues that could develop if your wisdom teeth are kept in place:
Pericoronitis
Pericoronitis occurs when the gums surrounding the crown of a tooth become inflamed. This happens around wisdom teeth because many of these back molars have not fully presented. When only a portion of a tooth is completely erupted, the tooth may be partially covered by a pocket of gum tissue.
The pocket of gum can sometimes trap debris, such as particles of food. The plaque that develops in this area can irritate the sensitive gum tissue to cause pericoronitis.
Pericoronitis can be treated by the excision of a portion of the gums. However, enough gum tissue may remain to still become inflamed even after this treatment has been performed.
The best way to treat the condition is to extract the wisdom tooth. Once the tooth has been removed, the gums around the area are stitched shut. After the extraction site heals, the condition is fully resolved.
Crowding
Teeth that are pressed together can eventually shift out of alignment due to crowding. The teeth may not form an even border along the palate. Instead, some teeth may be pushed forward, and others backwards. This crowding effect can be due to the presence of wisdom teeth.
Some wisdom teeth are situated sideways beneath the gums. Even wisdom teeth that have not erupted at all can cause crowding by placing pressure on other dental roots.
Once crowning occurs, it may only be corrected using orthodontic appliances. However, crowding can be avoided if wisdom teeth are removed early. Since these teeth usually present during the teen years, your dentist may begin talking about removal around that time.
Dental Decay
Due to the placement of the wisdom teeth in the rear of the mouth, it can be difficult to clean them properly. The back side of the teeth may be covered by gums. In addition, it can be difficult to access the rear of the teeth due to the size of the head of your toothbrush.
If decay forms on a wisdom tooth, the decay may spread to other teeth. Severe cases of dental decay can even affect the jawbone.
If you would like to have your wisdom teeth extracted, consult with a dentist in your area, like those at DSW Dental and similar locations.
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Caring for an elderly parent tends to be tough enough without the added stress of dealing with dental implants or dentures. But, the prospect is not the end of the world—there are many things you can do to ensure that your parent's dental health is not compromised without having to spend a lot of personal time doing the care yourself. Between working with the right dentist, hiring a service provider for part time work, and giving your parent the tools he or she needs to care for his or her own dental health at home, you'll find that dental health for your loved one isn't so tough or time consuming after all. Hopefully you are able to get the support and information you need right here.