Why Are Wisdom Teeth Removed?
Many of us have had our wisdom teeth removed. If you haven’t had your wisdom teeth removed, you probably know someone who has. For most of us, our wisdom teeth are removed when we are young, usually in our late teens or early twenties. We generally don’t understand why we are having this procedure, but our dentist has convinced us to have them removed. So, to help you better understand why we do this common procedure, here are the reasons why we remove wisdom teeth, and some other helpful information about the procedure.
A Crowded Mouth
If you have spent a lot of money putting your child in braces and helping them have a beautiful, straight smile, the last thing you want is for their teeth to move around, because their wisdom teeth are getting in the way. Crowded teeth can also cause other dental issues. It’s more difficult to keep teeth clean that are packed into your mouth. And, crowded teeth can cause bite and jaw alignment issues. Many of these problems occur when we become adults and our wisdom teeth start to move in. By removing your wisdom teeth, we can keep your straightened teeth in the right place, protect the health of your mouth and avoid painful bite and jaw issues.
Impacted Teeth
Wisdom teeth have the tendency to become “impacted.” Impacted teeth are those that are blocked from coming in correctly. This is generally because they are growing in the wrong direction (horizontally instead of vertically), and cannot push through the gums. Impacted teeth are generally the result of there not being enough room in the jaw for the teeth to grow in correctly. Impacted teeth can be painful, but they aren’t always. For some people, impacted wisdom teeth never cause them a problem, and they keep them for many years. For others, impacted wisdom teeth can be very painful, and require quick removal.
Determining the Right Time for Removal
As your wisdom teeth start developing in your jaw, we can watch their progression through your annual, routine x-rays. We will generally recommend removal if we believe that the wisdom teeth will cause problems with overcrowding, or if they start to show signs of impaction. For some people, their wisdom teeth are never a problem, and we can let them grow in without concern. However, it’s a wise idea to not risk unnecessary damage to your mouth and jaw, or a sudden onset of pain and discomfort because of an impacted wisdom tooth. We recommend that this procedure be done in younger individuals. There is no particular reason for this, except that your mouth heals easier and quicker when you are younger. Removing wisdom teeth after the age of 40 can come with a very long recovery time. On the other hand, some people never grow wisdom teeth, so if you don’t have any, don’t worry, you aren’t alone.
Other Things You Should Know
The procedure to remove your wisdom teeth shouldn’t be painful. We will numb your mouth and the most you should feel is a bit of pressure and pulling. Healing from wisdom tooth extraction can come with a bit of discomfort. We prescribe a medication for pain relief to help with this, and recommend that you limit your activity and rest until you feel better.
I’m Looking for the Best Dentist Near Me in Warren, MI
Extracting your wisdom teeth doesn’t have to be a big deal. It’s a common procedure and many people have little to no problem having these teeth removed. If we’ve recently recommended that you or your child have wisdom teeth removed, our knowledgeable staff are here to answer all of your questions, and ease your fears. To get more information about dental procedures at our Warren dental office or to schedule a dental appointment, call us today at (586) 573-7700.