Should I Get My Wisdom Teeth Removed? When Is It Necessary?
Wisdom teeth removal is a fairly common dental procedure. However, the reasons for removal vary greatly, and this surgical treatment can be performed to resolve issues, as well as prevent them. Explore wisdom teeth removal and the reasons why you may need to have your wisdom teeth removed at our Orland Park, FL, dental practice.
What Kind of Issues Can Wisdom Teeth Cause?
Wisdom teeth can cause a variety of oral health concerns, such as:
- Pain and swelling - Tooth and jaw pain are often reported with wisdom teeth concerns. Swelling is often associated with impaction as well as infections.
- Damage to surrounding teeth - When wisdom teeth become problematic, they can damage the surrounding teeth. This damage can put you at risk of infection and even tooth loss. It is often caused by tooth decay or excessive wear due to bite issues.
- Sinus issues - Believe it or not, wisdom teeth can actually cause sinus issues, leading to chronic congestion, pain, and inflammation.
- Jaw damage - In some cases, wisdom teeth can cause damage to the jaw.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Impacted wisdom teeth are probably one of the most obvious reasons to have your wisdom teeth extracted. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause a variety of oral health issue. By extracting problematic wisdom teeth, such as impacted teeth, we can eliminate or prevent these concerns.
Overcrowding
While your wisdom teeth might not be impacted, these molars can cause other problems like overcrowding. Overcrowded teeth can lead to a misaligned bite, which can cause pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJs).
Overcrowded teeth can also be difficult to brush and floss properly, leading to gum disease, tooth decay, and even tooth loss. These issues can lead to the need for more extensive dental treatments such as root canals, dental implants, and more.
Partially Erupted Teeth
Partially erupted wisdom teeth are another reason dentists suggest extraction. While they may not cause pain initially, partially erupted wisdom teeth can be difficult and sometimes impossible to properly maintain as you cannot reach certain areas to remove plaque and build-up. This can lead to infection, tooth decay, and gum disease.
Preventative Extraction
Another reason dentists suggest wisdom teeth removal is as a preventative measure. In some cases, we can see where wisdom teeth may cause issues like overcrowding. By proactively removing them, we can eliminate the possibility of issues such as overcrowding from developing to protect your oral health in the long run.
When Should I Have My Wisdom Teeth Removed?
In many cases, the best course of action is often prevention. While wisdom teeth extraction may seem like overkill, it can prevent the need for more extensive treatment like dental implants and orthodontics. Often, I can see that wisdom teeth are coming in an an angle via X-rays at my Orland Park practice.
However, in some cases, patients simply are not aware their wisdom teeth may become an issue until an actual problem develops. In many cases, pain is a major reason why patients seek dental treatment, and the issue is discovered during an examination.
Does Age Matter?
Many dentists suggest having your wisdom teeth removed between the ages of 14 and 26. Some sources suggest that 24 is the high end of the best time to have your wisdom teeth extracted.
However, patients develop at unique rates. The age suggestion is often when the wisdom teeth erupt, and by removing them shortly before or after they erupt, the tooth root and surrounding bone are not as established, which can reduce the risk of some complications and lead to an easier recovery.
However, if you are over that age range, in many cases, the benefits of wisdom teeth extraction outweigh the potential risks, especially if the wisdom teeth are causing issues like infections, tooth damage, or more.
As for children or young teens, dentists often wait for the child to be older to remove the wisdom teeth unless other problems develop or there is an indication that the wisdom teeth could become cause the teeth to shift our of place.
But Don’t Missing Teeth Need to Be Replaced?
In most cases of missing teeth, yes, they need to be replaced. However, wisdom teeth are the exception.
There is no need to replace wisdom teeth. The only reason we suggest dental implants and restorations after wisdom teeth removal is if other teeth were damaged or removed as well or if you had missing teeth before wisdom tooth removal. In that case, only the other teeth would be replaced with implant-supported restorations and not your wisdom teeth.
Are There Risks Involved With Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
Wisdom tooth removal is a surgical procedure, and there is always a level of risk. These risks include damage to the surrounding tissue, infection, damage to the jaw, and dry socket. However, I am dedicated to providing the highest level of care and do everything possible to help minimize the risks. In many cases, infection and dry sockets can be prevented by following aftercare instructions. We maintain the highest level of sanitation and care to protect you during your procedure.
It is very important to discuss any medications and health issues you have with me during your initial consultation. This allows me to make adjustments as needed and determine if tooth extraction is safe for you.
Sedation Options Available
Fear and anxiety are one of the biggest reasons patients put off having their wisdom teeth removed. We want you to be as comfortable as possible. We thoroughly numb the area before the procedure is started, and we also offer sedation options to keep you completely relaxed and comfortable. Our sedation options include oral conscious sedation and IV sedation.
During your consultation, we will discuss your options to help determine which is the best and safest for you.
Want to Learn More About Wisdom Teeth Removal?
If you suffer from pain or other oral health issues, or simply wonder if preventative wisdom teeth removal may be best for you, it is always a good idea to let your dentist examine you and discuss your options. We provide comprehensive dental treatments to help address a wide range of issues to help you achieve a beautiful and healthy smile that lasts for years to come. Get started by contacting our Orland Park office.
About Yamen Akhras, DDS
Dr. Yamen Akhras completed training in dental implants from the Misch Institute and the Urban Regeneration Institute. He specializes in treating gum disease, placing implants, and bone and gum grafting.
Read Dr. Akhras's Full Bio | All Posts by Dr. Akhras
