These third molars are well known for causing problems in the mouth. Over time, humans have
had less of a need for wisdom teeth and so our jaws have compensated for this. Unfortunately,
many people still have wisdom teeth even though they’re not needed.

Does everyone need to get their wisdom teeth out eventually? The answer may surprise you!

When Wisdom Teeth Are Impacted

Wisdom teeth will need to come out when they are impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth happen
when there’s no room for the teeth to properly erupt into your mouth. These wisdom teeth
end up pushing on the neighboring teeth, therefore forcing all of the teeth out of position if
they’re left to grow.

Another problem with impacted wisdom teeth is that sometimes due to their skewed position
in the mouth, they can’t erupt through the gumline all the way. They effectively get stuck.
These teeth become almost impossible to brush and can cause pain and infections. When
wisdom teeth are impacted, they’ll most likely need to be removed.

No Problems, No Extraction

Not everyone will need to have their wisdom teeth removed. If your jaw is large enough to
accommodate all of your wisdom teeth and they begin erupting with no problems, there’s
really no reason to remove your wisdom teeth. If you’re not having any symptoms and an x-ray
shows the teeth are in healthy positions, your dentist likely won’t recommend an extraction.

Although the majority of people do end up having their wisdom teeth removed, there is a small
percentage of people who can keep their wisdom teeth without any problems. A professional
and experienced dentist can help you know what your options are when your wisdom teeth
begin to come in.

How to Tell if an Extraction Is Necessary

There are a couple ways to tell if wisdom tooth extraction is necessary. The first is getting
dental x-rays around the time that your wisdom teeth will be coming in. Your dentist can look
at the x-rays and tell whether or not your wisdom teeth are impacted. X-rays can show your
wisdom teeth even when they’re not visible in your mouth.

If you’re having any symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth, it’s time to see your dentist for an
evaluation. Signs and symptoms of wisdom teeth that may need to be removed include jaw
pain or swelling, bleeding or swollen gums around the site, headaches, or a bad taste in your
mouth. All of these could be indicative of an infection or a problem with your wisdom teeth.

Although not everyone will need to have their wisdom teeth out, you should never ignore
wisdom tooth pain. If you haven’t seen the dentist in a while and your wisdom teeth are
coming in, it’s time to get x-rays. Getting your wisdom teeth extracted before they cause
problems with your other teeth is best. If your wisdom teeth are healthy, your dentist can
advise you how to best take care of them for life!

The post Does Everyone Have to Get Their Wisdom Teeth Removed Eventually? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Crooked Teeth

When your wisdom teeth are impacted, they can’t emerge through the gums because they often have nowhere to go. At the age your wisdom teeth come in (usually in the latter teenage years, or, around twenty years of age), your other teeth are set in their places and will not move easily. The impacted wisdom teeth can come in at odd angles and disturb the neighboring teeth, namely your second molars. Impacted wisdom teeth can also be responsible for crowding, which can cause crooked teeth. Crooked teeth have more problems than just affecting the aesthetic value of your smile—they can be difficult to brush and floss, therefore missing vital areas where plaque and bacteria can grow, and they can even cause an improper bite, meaning it will affect the way you chew food and could even lead to teeth grinding.

Ruin Orthodontic Work

At the age your wisdom teeth come in, you’ve likely had orthodontic work done, meaning any problems with your teeth have been corrected and your smile looks great. Impacted wisdom teeth are not good news when it comes to your completed orthodontic work! As a result of their impacted nature, the teeth can affect both your upper and lower rows of teeth by pushing on your teeth and making all of your teeth move, therefore ruining your orthodontic work. It’s best to get impacted wisdom teeth removed before they cause too much damage in your mouth, and you may even need more orthodontic work if you let them go for too long. Your orthodontic work likely cost you time, money, and some painful adjustments—don’t let your impacted wisdom teeth ruin all of that!

Problems with Adjacent Teeth

When your impacted wisdom teeth begin to come in, they’ll likely cause problems with your neighboring teeth. As they develop, they’ll create limited space between your second molars and themselves. This creates more room for plaque and bacteria to grow, and can even lead to cavities and tooth decay in that area. Third molars are often located so far back in the mouth that they can be difficult to properly brush in the first place, but having impacted third molars (wisdom teeth) on your second set of molars can create problems. In addition to the movement they’ll create as a result of pushing, you’re more at risk for cavities and other problems back there as your impacted wisdom teeth continue to develop.

Although impacted wisdom teeth can overcrowd your smile, you don’t have to suffer the impact! Your dentist can help determine whether or not your wisdom teeth are impacted and talk with you about treatment. Impacted wisdom teeth often need to be removed to help prevent further damage to your smile, but this is a common procedure that requires minimal healing time.

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