Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth can be valuable assets when they're healthy and properly positioned. But sometimes, removing them can be the wisest decision of all.
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WHAT ARE WISDOM TEETH?
Wisdom teeth are the last of the permanent teeth to develop during the late teens. These teeth are valuable assets to the mouth when they are healthy and properly positioned. Because they are the last teeth to develop, they can be left without space to erupt and may become impacted. Some problems that would require wisdom teeth removal are teeth growing sideways, emerging only part way from the gum or remaining trapped beneath the gum and bone. These problems can lead to infection under the gum flap (pericoronitis) or decay in the crown of the wisdom tooth itself or in the crown of the tooth in front of the wisdom tooth.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
My wisdom teeth aren’t bothering me, should I have them removed?
For many reasons, you should elect to extract your wisdom teeth before they become a problem:
- Wisdom teeth can be difficult to clean and are prone to decay.
- Bacteria can infect the tissue surrounding molars that are partially erupted, potentially leading to gum disease.
- Crowding can damage adjacent teeth and the overall jawbone.
- If teeth are impacted, cysts can form and destroy surrounding bone.
Is age a factor when removing wisdom teeth?
In younger people (late teens and early 20s), the wisdom tooth’s roots are not fully developed and the jaw bone is not as dense, so it is easier to remove the tooth. The easier it is to remove the tooth, the easier your recovery is likely to be.
Is it painful to have wisdom teeth removed?
The extraction of an erupted tooth in a healthy individual is relatively simple, and is generally a non-traumatic event that heals within a few days. Thanks to modern dental techniques, patients who require extraction from impactions need not suffer. Effective oral pre-medication and IV sedation eliminate most anxiety associated with the procedure.