It is extremely common for young adults to undergo minor surgery to have their wisdom teeth pulled. Most likely, you or someone you know has had them removed. It turns out, even though most people don’t want to undergo a tooth extraction, there may be a good reason.
As a matter of fact, wisdom teeth, which earned their name because they emerge at the onset of adulthood, aren’t all that wise. Scientists believe that wisdom teeth helped our ancestors with a diet that was much harder on their teeth than our modern day eating habits are. However, our wisdom teeth only begin to come in when people are around the age of 17 to 21 years of age. Since they emerge so late, after your other teeth are well-established, wisdom teeth often create unnecessary problems in your mouth.
The most common issue is that wisdom teeth become impacted. This means that your wisdom teeth cannot fully emerge, because your gums, back molars, or a combination of both are blocking them. Impacted wisdom teeth can create swelling and pain in your mouth. In addition, they can be difficult to keep clean, making you more likely to get cavities and gum disease.
While it is definitely not fun to have to have any teeth removed, there are three significant reasons to remove wisdom teeth before they cause problems.
- It is much easier to remove your wisdom teeth when they first emerge because the roots are not yet established.
- Wisdom teeth roots can grow near nerves, creating complications should you need to remove them later.
- Recovery time is typically longer if you wait to get your wisdom teeth removed, with possible additional symptoms including excessive bleeding, numbness, and reduced jaw movement.
There is some debate as to whether or not one should get their wisdom teeth taken out as soon as they come in. People with impacted wisdom teeth or other related complications should follow the advice of their dentist and take the proper action. If you have any questions in regards to your wisdom teeth, give us a call! We can take a look and help you to avoid any issues before they become severe complications.
In some cases, wisdom teeth can emerge with few or no complications. If this is the case for you, regular proper dental hygiene will become even more important to avoid cavities and gum disease. You will also want to stay consistent with your x-rays and professional cleaning visits to ensure your wisdom teeth stay healthy and clean. Even if your wisdom teeth initially come in healthy, there’s no guarantee they won’t cause complications in the future. They could cause problems later in your life, which is a good reason to just go ahead and have them removed – especially since we have little to no need for them today.
Whatever you choose, your dentist will be able to track your wisdom teeth as and after they emerge. If you have questions about your wisdom teeth, please call or make an appointment with us today!