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.
Phone Number:
Business hours:
Mon -Thu 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Fri - Sun Closed
Address:
7825 47th Ave. NE, Suite A , Marysville, WA 98270