Why Extract Your Wisdom Teeth?
July 1st, 2017Extracting your wisdom teeth, or third molars, is a common procedure usually performed on teenagers and young adults. Recovering from wisdom teeth extraction often involves pain for a while and the need to rinse out your mouth so food doesn’t get caught in the sockets. You might wonder why you need your wisdom teeth extracted at all, especially if they’re not causing pain. Overall, extracting wisdom teeth is the better choice for most people.
Impacting And Infection
Generally, wisdom teeth don’t have enough room at the back of the mouth to break through the gums and grow properly. Wisdom teeth often come in at an odd angle and may never be able to emerge from the gums. However, they are still stuck beneath the soft tissue and can cause infection and pain in your mouth. The impacted teeth can also cause damage to your lower jaw.
Even if the wisdom teeth can come through, they may come in and crash into your other molars. That will affect your bite and can shift the rest of your teeth around unnaturally. Additionally, wisdom teeth might partially emerge, but not fully, causing a flap of gum tissue to grow over them. This tissue can become infected from trapped food or germs.
Early Removal Is Best
If your wisdom teeth haven’t grown in yet, that doesn’t mean they never will. Dentists and oral surgeons recommend that younger people have the procedure performed before the wisdom tooth roots grow in and when the jawbone is less dense. That makes the surgery safer to conduct. Most people start experiencing problems with their wisdom teeth from the ages of 15 to 25.
Keep in mind that not everyone has four wisdom teeth. Some people have none, so you won’t have anything to remove. Some only have two, and if they need to be removed, the surgery is usually easier than with four teeth. Talk to your dentist about your wisdom teeth, and they will make sure to take X-rays of the area.
Your Wisdom Teeth Might Stay
Some people never need to get their wisdom teeth removed. The teeth might come in straight or never at all without any risk to the other teeth or the jaw. Again, speak with your dentist to determine if you really need the procedure. If you don’t, consider keeping the teeth rather than spend the money to remove something that won’t harm you.