If you have wisdom teeth, you’ve probably considered having them removed. If you’re experiencing pain, your dentist may recommend that your wisdom teeth are removed. The main question is around when you should have your wisdom teeth removed. Most dentists agree that it’s best to extract wisdom teeth before you’re 20 years old. If you’re over 30 and have wisdom teeth, it’s likely you won’t need to have them removed. Healthy wisdom teeth can form correctly and not cause you any problems. We’re looking at whether you should have your wisdom teeth removed, and what factors to consider.
What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth develop at the back of your mouth while also being the last teeth to surface. They get the name ‘wisdom teeth’, as they often develop when you’re between the age of 17 to 21 years old. Some people have healthy wisdom teeth that they keep for life, whereas others choose to remove their wisdom teeth.
Why can you have problems with your wisdom teeth?
Developing wisdom teeth isn’t always smooth sailing. If your jaw isn’t big enough, the wisdom teeth could become stuck in your jaw and unable to break through your gums. This impacted tooth could crowd other teeth and cause your gums to swell. If the wisdom teeth break through the gum, they can cause cavities as they’re difficult to clean.
Most people that have problems with their wisdom teeth will experience it when they’re between 15 to 25 years old. People over the age of 30s don’t experience any problems. Most dentists agree that it’s best to extract impacted wisdom teeth before you’re 20 years old, as it’s easier to have them removed while they’re softer.
Are there risks with removing wisdom teeth?
When your wisdom teeth are removed, you can expect to experience a few side effects. Pain and swelling around your gums are normal when a wisdom tooth is removed, and you can experience bleeding for more than 24 hours. Removing your wisdom teeth will usually be carried out under a general anesthetic. Most people will only experience minor side effects from having their wisdom teeth removed.
What risks are there for not having your wisdom teeth removed?
You might think that it’s better to avoid the risks and keep your wisdom teeth. There are dozens of problems that could occur if your wisdom teeth aren’t removed.
If there isn’t enough space in your mouth, your wisdom teeth can become impacted and not break through your gums. If they only partly breakthrough, this can cause a flap, where the gum tissue grows over the teeth. As you eat, food can become trapped and lead to a gum infection.
Impacted wisdom teeth can lead to infection or cause damage to your other teeth. If a fluid sac forms around the wisdom tooth, it can develop into a cyst and cause long-term damage. If you have wisdom teeth, you’re more likely to develop cavities or gum disease.
Your dentist will recommend that you should have your wisdom teeth removed if they are causing you pain, developing an infection, crowding your teeth, or are impacted. Having your wisdom teeth removed early can make the process easier and less painful.
