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When do wisdom teeth need to be removed?

Your wisdom teeth get their name because they are the last teeth to come in, hopefully when you are older and wiser. In most cases, wisdom teeth begin their descent during the later teenage years or early 20s. At this point, your dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon, particularly if their eruption causes undue pain, crowding, or other complications that threaten your oral health.

REMOVING WISDOM TEETH IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON ORAL SURGERIES

If you’re facing the removal of your wisdom teeth (extraction), never fear. You are not alone. In fact, only about 15% of the population have the healthy space and appropriate wisdom teeth positioning to let them come all the way in without extraction. The other 85% of us require one, two or even all four to be removed in order to keep our other teeth in proper alignment, and to prevent pain or discomfort in the mouth.

For many, the removal of wisdom teeth is the first “surgery” they will ever have. While most only require a local anesthetic to numb the general area and remove emerged wisdom teeth, some individuals require general anesthesia, allowing us to cut into the gum and remove the wisdom teeth before they begin causing further problems. This is typically the case for patients who have “impacted wisdom teeth” – which are wisdom teeth that can’t emerge properly and can even be positioned sideways – rather than upright.

Wisdom teeth can cause problems if they aren’t removed when they should be

If you’re not one of the lucky 15% who get to keep their wisdom teeth, the emergence of these teeth can cause:

Pain, swelling and discomfort. If adult molars block wisdom teeth, they get stuck while trying to emerge. This can cause intermittent or chronic swelling, discomfort and pain.

Infections. In many cases, wisdom teeth emerge partially and then stop because they can’t move any further. The skin around them becomes inflamed and irritated. This tissue can cause infection, causing further pain and discomfort (including swelling, stiffness and even illness). Over time, infections become much more serious if they spread.

Crooked teeth. If wisdom teeth are able to emerge, they sometimes do so at the expense of your other teeth, causing crowding or a shifting of their natural position. Not only does this change how your smile appears, it can also affect your bite and make your teeth and gums more susceptible to bacteria build up that can lead to gingivitis.

Tumors and cysts. Finally, and most serious of all, poorly positioned wisdom teeth can cause tumors and/or cysts to form. These are very dangerous because they eventually cause the jawbone to erode and can destroy your healthy teeth.

The good news is that absolutely none of that ever has to happen if you have your wisdom teeth removed when your dentist or oral surgeon recommends it.

(06/09/2020)

More Information: https://www.mybestdentists.com/LeeRWalker

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