Why and When You Should Have Your Wisdom Teeth Removed

Unfortunately, the appearance of your wisdom teeth isn’t proof that you’ve reached an age when your decisions become wiser. Most people experience getting their wisdom teeth sometime between 18 and 24—not exactly what most of us would call a time of especially wise decision-making. 

Although it may seem like everyone has to have their wisdom teeth removed, that’s not necessarily the case. At the Center for Dental Excellence East Lake, our staff has found it’s often helpful for people to understand why wisdom teeth are so frequently extracted and what kinds of problems can happen if they’re not.  Dr. Courtney Norwicki and Dr. Robert Christ are always happy to answer questions. 

Preventing future problems

Sometimes, removing your wisdom teeth is a good idea, even if you aren’t having a problem. Your third set of molars, wisdom teeth, were much more critical when humans ate coarser, more rugged food and had wider jaws. Now, we eat softer, more processed foods, and wisdom teeth serve no chewing function. 

There’s so little room in the back of the mouth for many people, and brushing and flossing wisdom teeth is difficult. That means gum disease and tooth decay are much more likely to occur. Removing your wisdom teeth could be a good idea if your mouth is crowded. 

Finally, although wisdom teeth can erupt (or come in) without issue, it’s relatively rare. They may erupt poorly positioned or not at all. If your dentist can see this is likely on an X-ray, they may recommend extraction before the teeth erupt. 

Impacted wisdom teeth are serious 

“Impacted” means your wisdom teeth didn’t have enough room to erupt properly, so they grow sideways or remain trapped beneath your gum. This can be quite painful and can also lead to a bacterial infection. 

An impacted wisdom tooth pressing against another tooth can cause serious damage. The existing tooth may be structurally damaged, or the wisdom tooth can even push multiple teeth out of alignment. Extraction is a good way to prevent that damage and lower the possibility of decay, infection, crowding, or other issues. 

Wisdom teeth require extra care

If your wisdom teeth do erupt, they are likely to be high-maintenance. They need to be closely monitored for any changes. You’ll need additional visits to ensure you’re not developing gum disease or decay in those difficult-to-reach teeth. The goal is to ensure you don’t develop infection, bleeding, swelling, or pain in your gums. 

Instead of the extra care, you may opt to remove your wisdom teeth, even if they aren’t causing you an issue. Removing them before you have problems can prevent damage to the roots of your other teeth and head off other serious oral health issues. 

Earlier is better

Typically, it’s easier to have your wisdom teeth removed before you’re 25 years old. This is because the roots of your wisdom teeth are less developed, and your jawbone is less dense. 

If your third molars erupted successfully, the procedure is simple, with only local anesthesia. Impacted wisdom teeth require oral surgery because your dentist must make an incision to remove them. In that case, sedation, along with local anesthesia, is necessary. 

If you suspect you should have your wisdom teeth removed, schedule an appointment at the Center for Dental Excellence East Lake. We’re happy to examine you and offer guidance on your next steps.