Wisdom Teeth
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are usually the last teeth to develop. They are located in the very back of your mouth, behind your second (or twelve year) molars. They usually complete development between a person’s late teens and early twenties.
Why are Wisdom Teeth Removed?
Since the wisdom teeth are the last to develop, they usually will not have enough room to adequately erupt into the mouth to become fully functional and cleansable teeth. This lack of room or space can result in a number of harmful effects on your overall dental health. Several detrimental results can occur:
Infection: Without enough room for total eruption, the gum tissue around the wisdom tooth can become irritated and infected, resulting in recurrent pain, swelling in the face and neck, and problems with chewing and swallowing.
Damage: If there is inadequate room to clean around the wisdom tooth, the tooth directly in front, the second molar, can be adversely affected resulting in gum disease (bone loss) or cavities (decay).
Disease: Non-infectious diseases can also arise in association with an impacted wisdom tooth. Cysts can develop, which slowly expand and destroy adjacent jawbone and occasionally other teeth. The cyst can be very involved to treat if your wisdom teeth are not removed at younger ages. Although rare, tumors can also develop with the delayed removal of wisdom teeth.
Crowding: Although controversial, many feel that impacted wisdom teeth directly contribute to crowding of your teeth. Their removal is recommended to absolutely eliminate its possible role in future crowding and other bite changes. It is highly recommended to remove wisdom teeth to help stabilize orthodontic results.
Unless you have an active problem at the time of your consultation, the reason for removal is primarily preventative to avoid these long term problems.
What is The Best Age to Have Them Removed?
If it is diagnosed that you do not have enough room in your mouth for your third molars to erupt, it is advisable to have them removed as soon as it is recognized. During your teenage years or early twenties present the optimal times to remove your wisdom teeth. These ages promote faster healing and prevent future problems commonly associated with retained third molars in older patients.