“Should I Remove My Wisdom Teeth?”
Here’s what you should know about these (often troublesome) teeth
Wisdom teeth may not always provide ‘wisdom’ but they can give you a lot of other things… and unfortunately most are not nice. These “third molars” are the teeth at the very back of the mouth and are the last ones to come up. Often they are detected in your mid to late teens (and even early twenties). When these teeth align properly and gum tissue is healthy, your wisdom teeth will be an additional chewing surface… but usually this is not the case… and wisdom teeth are notorious for causing dental problems.
Not the wisest teeth of the bunch…
The average mouth is made to hold only 28 teeth, and adding four more to the mix can cause all sorts of issues. These extra teeth can become impacted, when the tooth cannot come up easily and may even get stuck in soft tissue or bone. Erupting wisdom teeth can also grow at various angles in the jaw, sometimes even horizontally. They may partially emerge from the gum but can also remain trapped beneath the gum and bone for an extended period of time.
Do my wisdom teeth need to be removed?
Your dentist will be able to tell you if your wisdom teeth should be removed to avoid oral problems. Many dentists encourage the removal of the teeth with early extraction as it helps to eliminate problems that can occur such as:
- Headaches and a sore mouth
- Pushing straight teeth out of alignment
- Crowding of the existing teeth
- Damage to surrounding tissue and bone
- Cysts and gum disease
- Bacteria and plaque build-up
- Cavities due to due to difficulty in cleaning these hard to reach locations.
Through the use of x-rays, your dentist can see exactly where your wisdom teeth are located as well as the direction of growth. It’s important to keep an eye on newly emerging wisdom teeth. If an extraction is needed, it’s a much simpler process when the tooth is still new as the roots are not completely developed and the bone in the surrounding area is not as dense.
Contact a Teeth First clinic near you for a friendly and professional consultation! Our team of experts will help you determine what's right for you, and ensure your wisdom teeth don’t cause you any concerns.