Wisdom Teeth RemovalHaving your wisdom teeth removed is always be a memorable experience. As the wisdom teeth grow in, there can be many complications and problems that arise that force you to get them removed.

However, what many people don’t talk about is the timing as to when the wisdom teeth should be removed. Some people even try to wait for extended periods of time before having them removed, leading to major complications and issues that could have been resolved much sooner, as well as numerous other situations that can arise.

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth1 are your third molars. These molars are meant to help with chewing and grinding your food, as we can sometimes all use the extra bit of help. The reason they are called your wisdom teeth is due to the time at which they start growing in: most wisdom teeth are seen and noticed around age 17 to 21, right around the age of maturity of a person. Hence, the name wisdom teeth.

Why Have Them Removed?

Although they sound great, the timing of their arrival can lead to major complications. At age 17 to 21, the teeth that are already formed in the mouth have been fairly stable. This means that the introduction of these new molars may end up forcing their way into the lineup of teeth, resulting in the already stable formation of teeth to become dislodged, causing excruciating pain in the mouth.

If the wisdom teeth are left for too long, another major concern is the amount of nerve damage they can cause if they do take root. Nerve damage will generally occur along the lower wisdom teeth since they are located so close to the neurovascular bundle, or the bottom sets of nerve endings. These nerves are connected to the tongue, allowing you to extract and feel and taste anything that the tongue touches. Although it is relatively minor and can be remedied by taking the teeth out, if left untreated and alone, it can cause massive damage to your tongue and nerves that may turn permanent.

Sometimes, the molars may not even breach the gumline. In cases like this, the molars attempt to push out through the gums but are unable to breach. This means that you could have 4 teeth that are now growing under the gums, creating decay underneath the gums, as well a breaking and destroying the roots of other teeth by forcing their way in.

Other such problems that can occur are things like:

  • Infection
  • Cysts
  • Tooth Decay
  • Gum Disease
  • Teeth Damage

Why Timing Matters

So you may be wondering, “Why is it better to get them taken early?” The answer lies in all of the problems that can be amplified with time. Infections, cysts, and tooth damage can all become major problems if left alone. If, say, you do end up having tooth decay set in on the wisdom teeth, getting them taken out early can result in the decay not setting into the other teeth. If left alone, however, the decay and disease that comes with tooth decay can easily be transferred over to the other fully formed teeth that are already fully grown.

Leaving the teeth can also cause irreparable damage to other teeth just simply by being there. If the wisdom teeth start growing in at an odd angle, they can force themselves against the other teeth, causing the original teeth to become malformed, as well as having the roots be shifted and possibly uprooted. Since teeth are not able to naturally heal, the longer that you wait to remove the wisdom teeth could mean that your other teeth will permanently be disfigured and possibly cause continuous and lifelong pain for you.

In essence, any length of time can extend and create even more problems for you, while it can help nurture the growth of existing problems to new levels of danger. Tooth decay can get worse, misalignment of teeth can be more pronounced, and cysts and tumors can become worse.

Surgical Implications of Timing

Timing isn’t just about getting the surgery, either. One of the many reasons to get treatment early for wisdom teeth removal is that the extent that the teeth are left in effect the surgical healing process afterward as well. For instance, removing the wisdom teeth before the roots have enough time to really settle in means that the healing process afterward will see fewer complications. It will also take less to correct any damage done to other teeth that the wisdom teeth may have affected, such as shifting in teeth or slight decay and infections that may have just started to form, as these are easier to heal and take care of as soon as they start, rather than in the latter stages of the disease development.

Not Always A Problem

This is not to say that all wisdom teeth should always be removed. Some will experience more benign issues, ones that may be remedied by observation by Boise Dentist. Or, you may end up with wisdom teeth that cause no problems, and that come in naturally, without hindering your other teeth.

To figure this out, always contact your dentist to figure out if it is necessary to have the wisdom teeth removed. Through the usage of x-rays, as well as physical examinations, your dentist will be able to identify and detail any problems that may occur if the wisdom teeth are left in, or if they are removed.

Even if the wisdom teeth are deemed safe, though, many dentists will let you know that maintain supervision and observation of the wisdom teeth on a regular basis will be necessary. This is due to the fact that these complications can occur at any point throughout the wisdom teeth growth periods.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, wisdom teeth removals are not as dangerous as it may seem. The removal process is quite simple and easy to do, as it is quite commonplace to have them removed. It is just important to know that if you are seen as needing to have them removed, that you do not delay in having them removed quickly. The shorter the period of time between the diagnosis and removal, the better your chances are of having fewer complications with your other teeth and gumline. If you are looking for a dental practice to either examine or remove your wisdom teeth give Times Square Dental a call or schedule your appointment online2.

Resources

  1. https://www.timessquaredental.com/Oral-Surgery
  2. https://www.timessquaredental.com/Contact