Wisdom teeth are the last four adult teeth to erupt in your mouth, usually between the ages of 17 and 25. Despite their name, wisdom teeth often cause more harm than good. In some cases, they can be so impacted that they damage other teeth or even cause infections. For this reason, many people have their wisdom teeth removed to prevent any future issues. In this article, we will discuss why it is important to keep an eye on your wisdom teeth and why you may need to have them taken out.Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. They are located at the back corners of the upper and lower jaws. Wisdom teeth usually come in between the ages of 17 and 25 and may cause overcrowding of the mouth or be impacted (unable to fully erupt through the gum). In some cases, they may need to be removed for comfort or to prevent infection.
Reasons for Extracting Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last teeth to develop in the mouth. They usually appear in the late teens or early twenties and often cause problems because there isn’t enough room in the mouth for them to come in properly. These extra teeth can become impacted, meaning they are trapped in the jawbone and unable to erupt fully. When this happens, wisdom teeth may need to be extracted by an oral surgeon. Here are some of the most common reasons for extracting wisdom teeth:
Crowding: When wisdom teeth come in, they can push other teeth out of alignment and cause crowding. This can lead to pain and discomfort, as well as difficulty cleaning and caring for your teeth properly. Extracting impacted wisdom teeth can help reduce crowding and improve oral hygiene.
Infection: Wisdom teeth that are coming in at an angle or partially erupted are more likely to become infected due to food particles being trapped around them. This can cause swelling, pain, and other symptoms. Extracting these teeth can help prevent infection from spreading to other parts of the mouth.
Cysts: When wisdom teeth don’t erupt fully, fluid-filled sacs called cysts can form around them and increase the risk of damage to surrounding tissues. Removing these cysts through extraction is often recommended as a way of preserving healthy tissues in the mouth.
Damage: Impacted wisdom teeth may also damage adjacent healthy tooth roots if left untreated for too long. This may lead to serious dental problems such as decay or even loss of a tooth altogether. Extracting impacted wisdom tooth is therefore important for preventing further damage down the line.
Overall, extracting impacted wisdom teeth is a common procedure that has many benefits for oral health. It helps reduce crowding and prevent infections that could otherwise spread throughout the mouth, as well as protecting healthy tooth roots from being damaged by impacted wisdom teeth.
Benefits of Keeping Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last teeth to develop in the mouth. They usually come in between the ages of 17 and 25. Many people opt to have their wisdom teeth removed due to overcrowding, decay, or infection. However, there are benefits to keeping wisdom teeth that should be considered before making the decision to remove them.
The first benefit is that wisdom teeth can help maintain proper alignment and spacing of other teeth in the mouth. If there is enough room for them to grow in properly, they can help support other teeth and prevent them from shifting out of place.
Another benefit is that they help protect against gum disease and tooth decay by providing an additional barrier against bacteria. This is especially true if a person is brushing and flossing regularly and avoiding sugary and processed foods.
Finally, having wisdom teeth can also provide a person with more chewing power. The extra molars can enhance a person’s ability to chew tough foods like steak or nuts, which can improve digestion and overall nutrition intake.
Although some people may opt to have their wisdom teeth removed due to overcrowding or other issues, there are several benefits to keeping them as well. It’s important for people to consider all the pros and cons before making a decision about whether or not to keep their wisdom teeth.
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. While not everyone gets wisdom teeth, they can cause a variety of problems when they do erupt. Common problems associated with wisdom teeth include overcrowding, impacted teeth, infection, cysts, and gum disease.
Overcrowding
When wisdom teeth come in, they can cause overcrowding in the mouth as there is often not enough room for them to fully emerge. This can lead to adjacent teeth becoming misaligned and crooked. In some cases, the wisdom teeth may even push against the other molars and cause pain or discomfort.
Impacted Teeth
In some cases, wisdom teeth may become impacted or stuck beneath the gums due to lack of space. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain, infection, and damage to nearby teeth and tissue. If left untreated, impacted wisdom teeth can also lead to cysts or tumors that may need to be surgically removed.
Infection
Wisdom tooth eruption sometimes causes bacteria to enter through cracks in the tooth enamel leading to cavities and infections in the gums or surrounding tissue. Signs of an infection include redness and swelling around the area where the tooth is trying to erupt. If left untreated, infections can spread into other areas of the mouth as well as into other parts of the body leading to more serious health problems such as an abscessed tooth or sepsis.
Cysts
Cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form around impacted wisdom teeth if left untreated for too long. Cysts can damage bone tissue in the jaw and cause severe pain if not treated promptly by a dentist or oral surgeon. In some cases, surgery may be needed to remove a cyst along with any affected teeth or bone tissue.
Gum Disease
Gum disease is another common problem associated with erupting wisdom teeth due to bacteria entering through cracks in the tooth enamel when it tries to emerge from beneath the gum line. Symptoms of gum disease include redness and swelling around affected areas as well as bleeding from brushing or flossing too hard near those areas. Treatment for gum disease usually involves antibiotics along with regular cleaning visits at your dentist’s office every six months or so.
How Do Dentists Decide to Extract Wisdom Teeth?
Dentists usually make the decision to extract wisdom teeth based on an evaluation of an individual’s dental health and the position of their wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last teeth to erupt in a person’s mouth. If there is not enough room for them to come in properly, they may become impacted or stuck beneath the gums and not erupt at all. In these cases, dentists will often recommend that they be extracted.
Impacted wisdom teeth can cause a variety of dental problems such as infection, decay, and crowding of other teeth. They can also make brushing and flossing difficult, which can lead to more serious oral health issues down the road. In some cases, impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain or discomfort, leading dentists to recommend extraction for relief of symptoms.
Dentists will also consider how well an individual’s oral hygiene habits are when making a decision about extracting wisdom teeth. If the person does not practice proper oral hygiene regularly or has a history of cavities or gum disease, it may be more prudent to extract the wisdom teeth before further damage can occur.
Finally, dentists will also take into account any medical risk factors that could be associated with having the wisdom teeth removed such as age, overall health condition and any underlying medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. In certain cases where these factors exist, extracting the wisdom tooth may pose too great a risk for the patient and thus should be avoided altogether.
In conclusion, dentists usually make decisions about extracting wisdom teeth based on an evaluation of each patient’s unique circumstances including their dental health and position of their wisdom teeth along with any medical risk factors associated with having them removed.
Risks of Keeping Wisdom Teeth
Keeping wisdom teeth can carry certain risks. In some cases, wisdom teeth may push other teeth out of alignment, resulting in overcrowding or shifting of the other teeth. This can lead to an increased risk for tooth decay and gum disease due to the difficulty of cleaning crowded teeth. If wisdom teeth are misaligned, they may also be difficult to properly clean and therefore can lead to an increased risk for cavities and other oral health issues. Additionally, if wisdom teeth are impacted, meaning they are unable to fully erupt through the gum line, they can cause pain and swelling in the area surrounding the tooth. Impacted wisdom teeth can also form cysts or tumors which can damage nearby bone and tissue structures. Due to these risks, it is important for individuals with wisdom teeth to have regular dental checkups so any potential issues can be identified early and addressed before they become more serious.
Recovery After Extracting Wisdom Teeth
The recovery after extracting wisdom teeth can be a process that requires patience and proper care. After a wisdom tooth extraction, it is important to adhere to the instructions given by your dentist or oral surgeon. This will help reduce the risk of infection and other complications, as well as ensure that your mouth heals properly. Generally, recovery takes several days and includes some swelling, discomfort, and bleeding.
It is common to have some swelling after wisdom tooth extraction. Swelling usually peaks at 48 to 72 hours after surgery and then begins to subside. To reduce swelling, place an ice pack on the outside of your cheek in the area of surgery for 15 minutes at a time every hour or two for the first 48 hours. Do not place ice directly onto your skin; instead use a thin cloth between the ice and skin.
Bleeding is also normal after surgery. Your dentist or oral surgeon may give you a gauze pad to bite down on directly over the surgical site for 30 minutes during the first 24 hours following surgery. If bleeding persists even with this technique, repeat this step multiple times throughout the day until it subsides. It is also important to drink plenty of fluids and get enough rest during recovery; this will help with healing time as well as reducing any discomfort associated with the procedure.
Your dentist or oral surgeon may also prescribe pain medication and recommend eating soft foods such as yogurt, applesauce, mashed potatoes, or soup for several days following surgery until healing has occurred. Additionally, rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water several times throughout each day for up to a week following surgery; this will help keep the area clean and reduce any discomfort associated with healing tissue in your mouth.
Following these instructions can help ensure that your mouth heals properly after removing wisdom teeth and reduce any complications associated with the procedure. If you have any questions about recovery from extracting wisdom teeth, do not hesitate to contact your dentist or oral surgeon for further information or advice.
Complications of Not Extracting Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth can cause numerous complications if they are not extracted. The most common issue is that wisdom teeth can become impacted, or trapped in the jawbone and soft tissue. This can be very painful and can cause infection in the surrounding area. It can also cause damage to the adjacent teeth and the underlying bone structure. If left untreated, impacted wisdom teeth may require more invasive surgery to remove them properly. In some cases, this may even require multiple surgeries to be completely removed.
Another potential complication of not extracting wisdom teeth is cyst formation. Cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form around impacted wisdom teeth and can damage the surrounding jawbone and other teeth if left untreated. Although cysts are usually benign, they can cause significant damage to the jawbone and other teeth if left untreated for too long, which could lead to tooth loss or further surgery.
Finally, it is possible for wisdom teeth that have not been extracted to cause overcrowding in the mouth. This overcrowding of other teeth could lead to improper alignment of these other teeth which could lead to issues with biting and chewing food correctly as well as an increased risk of cavities and gum disease due to hard-to-reach areas in between overlapping teeth.
Conclusion
The wisdom teeth can cause a lot of problems, especially if they are not removed. They can cause jaw pain, crowding of other teeth, and even infection. Even if they do not cause problems when they first come in, they may develop issues in the future. As such, it is important to evaluate wisdom teeth and consider removal if necessary. Although the procedure may seem daunting, it is generally a safe and relatively quick procedure that eliminates future potential issues.
Overall, it is important to consider the potential risks and benefits associated with wisdom teeth before making a decision about whether or not to keep them. When in doubt, it can be beneficial to consult with a dentist who can provide advice on the best course of action for your particular situation.