When to Get Your Wisdom Teeth Removed

You consoled your child when they were teething, taught them how to brush and floss their teeth every day, and celebrated each time they lost a baby tooth. Perhaps you even reminded them of the light at the end of the tunnel when they had braces. After all this, you might expect the final rite of passage with your child’s dental health to be getting their wisdom teeth removed.

Here’s what you should know about wisdom teeth removal:

When Wisdom Teeth Erupt

Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, are the last adult teeth to emerge, generally between the ages of 17 to 25. If a patient has wisdom teeth (yes, it’s possible to have zero!), they could have anywhere from one to four. This brings their total number of permanent teeth to somewhere between 29 and 32 teeth.

Wisdom teeth extraction isn’t always necessary. Some patients have plenty of room in their mouth, allowing these late-blooming teeth to grow in perfectly fine without any damage to neighboring teeth. They are straight and easy to clean. For these cases, there’s no need to get wisdom teeth extraction.

When to Get Your Wisdom Teeth Removed

But there are several situations when removal of these teeth is a good idea. For example, a crooked angle of growth may spell trouble for nearby teeth if they bump into each other. A wisdom tooth can push its neighbors out of place because of limited room, resulting in crowding, tooth misalignment, and an increased risk of decay. Additionally, a wisdom tooth that gets stuck after only partially erupting increases the risk of infection. Some fully erupted wisdom teeth are difficult to keep clean and become a trap for food particles and bacteria, leading to bad breath and decay.

Sometimes a patient benefits from early removal of these teeth to prevent these potential problems. Would you like to know if you or your child need wisdom teeth removal? We recommend visiting a dentist for X-rays and a wisdom teeth consultation, especially if these teeth seem to be causing pain.

Gentle Tooth Extractions at Optima Dental Spa

Tooth extractions are just one of the many different types of dental treatments we offer at Optima Dental Spa. We understand that a procedure like that can seem a little intimidating. Know that you or your teenager will be in good hands with our expert team of dental professionals.

If you have any questions about wisdom teeth removal or our other dental services, contact Optima Dental Spa today. We’d be thrilled to get you some answers!

Categorised in: Oral Surgery