Reasons For Wisdom Tooth Removal

While it’s not always necessary to remove wisdom teeth, you can have them pulled out if they present a risk to your oral health. Most people have wisdom teeth extraction during their teens or early 20s, but others hesitate to get the procedure. When it comes to deciding when to commit to having wisdom teeth removal, it’s ultimately up to you. However, some risks arise from keeping the wisdom teeth in place. 

Infection Of The Gums And Teeth

If your wisdom teeth are stuck beneath the gum line, meaning they are partially impacted, the gums may become irritated and inflamed, often leading to an infection. You may repeatedly suffer from pain and swelling, particularly in the areas near wisdom teeth. In the event of a severe infection, you may suffer systemic illness. Also, partially impacted wisdom teeth tend to be challenging to keep clean, meaning they may suffer decay and infection of the pulp, the innermost layer of the teeth. 

Damage To Surrounding Teeth

People with small mouths that cannot accommodate wisdom teeth may experience teeth misalignment. As the teeth come in, they may push against the surrounding teeth, causing them to move out of place. Sometimes, the emerging wisdom teeth can cause severe damage to the roots of the nearby teeth. Additionally, wisdom teeth can trap food against the adjoining molars, hence increasing the risk of those molars developing cavities. 

Cysts And Tumors

It is common to have cysts forming inside the jawbone due to impacted wisdom teeth. The cyst can expand to a point where it damages the jawbone and probably the nearby teeth. Failure to extract wisdom teeth during young age or adolescence can make cysts quite difficult to treat. Now that you know why you should have your wisdom teeth removed, why not schedule an appointment with our dental team to see if there is a need to extract the teeth.