If you’re having pain and discomfort near your wisdom teeth, its a sign that leads to the dreaded question: Do I need my wisdom teeth out? Which in most cases leads to a moment of panic.
For some people, the wisdom teeth come in just fine. It may be difficult to understand why they must be removed. Why me, right? Well in this article we’ll discuss what to expect from wisdom teeth removal and help you understand why you probably want them removed.
Why is Wisdom Tooth Removal Necessary?
The reason for wisdom teeth removal is obvious if you are already in pain, but you may be able to avoid discomfort and further oral health issues if you get your wisdom teeth removed before problems arise.
If wisdom teeth removal is put off, it can have serious consequences, particularly if your mouth is too small to accommodate them. Problems that can occur may include:
- Misalignment of surrounding teeth
- Swollen gums
- Increased risk of cavities and gum disease
- Pain and damage of jawbone
- Sinus problems
Wisdom teeth can push the teeth in front of them causing shifting or decay of adjacent teeth
The gums around wisdom teeth can be impinged
When to Remove Wisdom Teeth
The point to understand with wisdom teeth is that there are indicators that show they will eventually become a problem. You can see from the photos that the positioning of the wisdom teeth can make them predisposed to shifting of the teeth, decay, infection, even sore throat and ear pain. So what happens is, if we see these positioning issues its usually best to remove the wisdom teeth before the patient has symptoms.
When you are born, some of your bones are made entirely of cartilage, and they harden and fuse as you grow. The older you get, the harder your bones become, so this hardening can make wisdom teeth removal more difficult and more painful the longer you wait into later stages of life.
Wisdom teeth usually erupt between the ages of 17-25, and the sooner you can complete your wisdom teeth extraction, the better it may be for your overall health.
Wisdom Teeth Removal in Waltham, MA
Dr. Sutera of Aesthetic Smile Reconstruction in Waltham, MA, and the Boston, MA area is a top tier wisdom tooth removal dentist. He and his team focus on making patients comfortable throughout the entire wisdom tooth process. Aesthetic Smile Reconstruction also offers a full fleet of dental sedation options including nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and IV sedation dentistry to aid your comfort. Contact us today to set up an appointment to discuss your wisdom tooth removal and other oral health care needs. Due to close proximity, Dr. Sutera happily many students from Brandeis University, Bentley University, and Regis College. We look forward to seeing your smile!
