Why Should You Remove Your Wisdom Teeth

Most of your teeth come in before you are an adult, but wisdom teeth don't start to appear until you are between 17 and 25. Many dentists recommend having these extra molars removed as soon as possible. If your wisdom teeth are starting to grow and you aren't sure if they need to be removed, check out these reasons it's a good idea to have them extracted.
There Isn't Always Enough Room Teeth already have limited space. Some people don't have enough room for all their teeth even before the wisdom teeth grow, causing malocclusion. If there isn't enough space and your wisdom teeth are left alone, they can put pressure on other teeth. This pressure can lead to irritation and inflammation, but it can also cause chips and cracks in healthy teeth as the wisdom tooth pushes into other teeth. This is quite common if the tooth begins to grow in at an angle. With a sharp enough angle, the tooth may force healthy teeth to move, which can ruin your teeth alignment and bite.
They Don't Always Erupt When teeth break through the gums, it's called erupting. Healthy teeth should fully erupt so the entire crown is exposed (and the root remains safety inside the gums). With some teeth, especially wisdom teeth, the teeth may not fully erupt. Some teeth may partially break through the gums, while others may be completely out of sight even when they are fully grown. This may not seem like much of a problem, but it can increase the risk of infection of the tooth and surrounding tissue. Infections can cause major pain, and if left untreated, can lead to different parts of the body. Unerupted teeth can also lead to sinus pain and pressure, which may be so painful you confuse it with sinusitis. In rare cases, the tooth roots can penetrate the sinus. After extraction, this will need to be treated to prevent infection and complications.
They Can Lead to Cyst Formation Wisdom teeth are developed in a sac inside the jawbone. If the tooth doesn't fully erupt, this sac can fill with fluid, creating a cyst. Even if the cyst is harmless, it can cause pain by putting pressure on teeth. The cyst can even actually damage the jawbone, teeth, and nerves. In rarer cases, instead of a cyst, a tumor may begin to develop. These tumors are usually benign, meaning they are not cancerous, but they can still cause complications. The only treatment may be to surgically remove the affected tissue.
They Can Be Difficult to Clean Regardless of how your wisdom teeth finally look, they can be difficult to clean. Many people already neglect their molars because they are in the back and are harder to reach. Therefore, even if your wisdom teeth are in great condition, you may neglect to brush and floss them, leading to decay and gum irritation or disease. If the teeth don't grow in properly, you can experience other problems. For example, even if you do your best to clean your wisdom teeth, it may be nearly impossible to get floss or toothbrush bristles between the teeth if they are misaligned. Not only can this affect the wisdom teeth, but it can affect nearby healthy teeth if the decay spreads. Wisdom teeth are the last teeth you get, and they can cause a lot of complications because human mouths aren't usually large enough to support them. If your wisdom teeth are starting to erupt, especially if they don't look like they are growing properly, you need to contact your dentist to talk about extraction. For more information about wisdom teeth, complications and extraction, contact us at Jeffrey L. Erwin DDS today.