What age is the most common to get wisdom teeth removed? From age ranges to the best age
you can consider wisdom tooth removal, here’s why you shouldn’t wait to get your wisdom
teeth removed if you need to.

Age 16-20 Is the Most Common Age Range

Age 16-20 is a fairly broad age range, but it’s the most common for wisdom tooth extractions.
Some patients are older or younger when they have their wisdom teeth removed, it all depends
on when your wisdom teeth are developing. Dentists typically like to wait until the teeth are
almost completely developed to extract them.

If you’re outside of this age range and need to have your wisdom teeth removed, don’t worry.
Wisdom teeth extractions are very successful in patients of all ages. This procedure is considered very safe and effective when performed by your oral healthcare professional.

Optimal Time Based on Tooth Formation

For the majority of patients, the best time for wisdom tooth extractions is right around the age
of 18. Again, this will depend on how far along your teeth are in developing. Your dentist will
want to wait until two-thirds of the tooth is formed.

Waiting until the wisdom teeth are mostly formed makes it easier for your dentist to extract
them. Your dentist can tell from x-rays how developed your wisdom teeth are and when the
best time to remove them is, if they need to be removed. Generally, this happens around 18
years of age.

Getting the Procedure Sooner Rather than Later

In general, older patients experience more problems with their wisdom tooth removal. Their
body may take longer to heal itself, or they may be more at risk to experience dry socket or
nerve damage. If you need your wisdom teeth removed, the longer wait can increase the
likelihood of complications after the procedure.

However, don’t let this prevent you from getting your wisdom teeth removed. Experienced
dentists can remove wisdom teeth if necessary at any age. Generally, the sooner you have your
wisdom teeth extracted, the easier the procedure will be and the faster the healing time!

Has your dentist evaluated your smile for wisdom tooth removal? When you need your wisdom
teeth removed, don’t delay in setting up an appointment. Getting your wisdom teeth removed
is a common procedure that can alleviate the many problems wisdom teeth can cause.
Schedule a consultation with your dentist today if you haven’t already for a wisdom tooth
evaluation for you or your child!

The post At What Age Is Wisdom Tooth Removal Most Common? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

What this means is that wisdom teeth get stuck either underneath the gumline or only partially erupt through the gumline. Either one of these is a situation that requires professional care.

Your impacted wisdom tooth will eventually need to come out before it begins causing other problems. When should you get it out and why?

When Your Dentist Recommends Extraction

It’s imperative that you see a professional dentist for your impacted wisdom tooth. He or she can let you know when extraction would best be completed. You don’t want to wait to see a dentist when it comes to impacted wisdom teeth.

Impacted wisdom teeth are essentially trapped inside your jawbone. Leaving them alone could mean incurring jaw pain or even complications that would make extraction more difficult. If there are complications during your extraction, not only could the procedure be more expensive, your recovery time could take longer.

Signs to look out for with impacted wisdom teeth include pain, swelling, bleeding, or bad breath, which could mean you have an infection. Your dentist or oral surgeon can help you decide when the best time to extract your impacted wisdom tooth is.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth Can Ruin Orthodontic Work

Impacted wisdom teeth are more than just nuisances that you need to get out. They can cause some major problems if left alone, even if there’s only one of them. If you’ve had any previous orthodontic work done, impacted wisdom teeth can ruin it.

These wisdom teeth can push against your rows of teeth, making them crowd together and pushing them forward. Teeth can quickly become misaligned and you may even need a second set of braces after the removal if you wait too long.

Impacted wisdom teeth can also cause infections. This is because impacted wisdom teeth that partially erupt through the gums can be very difficult to clean. Food particles and plaque can cause decay that simply can’t be reached without help from your dentist.

What to Expect

Millions of people have their wisdom teeth removed every year without issue. This is a relatively simple procedure that’ll have you back to your old self in no time. Your dentist will refer you to an oral surgeon who can conduct the removal. You’ll be mildly sedated, the teeth will be extracted, and you’ll go home the same day.

Following your oral surgeon’s instructions for healing can help you to recover quickly and safely from your wisdom tooth removal. After you heal, your smile will be back to normal and you’ll no longer have any problems from your wisdom teeth!

Are you seeing signs of impacted wisdom teeth? Don’t hesitate to make an appointment with your dentist. He or she can take x-rays and tell if your wisdom teeth are impacted. If they are, an oral surgeon can further help you identify when an extraction would be needed. Don’t put off an impacted wisdom tooth, it could get worse!

The post How Long Can I Ignore My Impacted Wisdom Tooth? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Impacted wisdom teeth happen when there’s not enough space in your mouth for your wisdom teeth to come through your jaw and take their place with your other teeth. When this happens, you can suffer from migraines, painful inflammation or cysts around your gums, and even crooked teeth! When there’s not enough space for the teeth to come through, they begin pushing against your other teeth. Ignoring your wisdom teeth’s arrival in your mouth could put any orthodontic work you had done at risk or even lead to gum infections and cavities.

Cavities and Gum Problems

If you allow your wisdom teeth to come in, you could experience cavities. Wisdom teeth are often difficult to brush and properly clean due to their location in the mouth. This can create infections and swollen gums from the buildup of plaque and bad bacteria. As you get older, wisdom teeth become more permanent and solid in your mouth, making them even more difficult to remove as time goes on. Ignoring any swollen, red, or bleeding gums as a result of your wisdom teeth could put your whole mouth at risk for gingivitis or periodontal disease.

Sinus Health Problems and Headaches

Wisdom teeth are known for being painful as they grow in, but what many patients don’t know is that wisdom teeth can indirectly lead to migraines and sinus problems. As the wisdom teeth come in, the way you chew and bite may change, which can lead to pressure on unexpected places in your jaw. Tense muscles from the pain of wisdom teeth could lead to headaches, which may be occasional or persisting.

Some people who leave their wisdom teeth in or ignore the pain they cause also experience sinus problems. Your upper wisdom teeth come in right under your sinuses, so they can affect the pressure your sinuses experience and lead to headaches or infections.

Some people never have problems with their wisdom teeth, have plenty of space for them in their mouths, and are able to keep them clean. However, this isn’t true for the majority of people. Ignoring the pain or infection that your wisdom teeth cause can have a big impact on the rest of your smile. Visit your dentist. He or she can take x-rays and determine if your wisdom teeth are fine or if they need to be removed to prevent future dental problems for your smile!

The post Don’t Ignore That Wisdom Tooth! appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Why Do Wisdom Teeth Create Problems?

Wisdom teeth, also called “third molars”, typically erupt in early adulthood—from age 18 through the late 20s. In most cases, these teeth emerge in a healthy manner and don’t disrupt the rest of the teeth or jaw structure. However, in 30% of cases, their emergence may cause problems. These problems can occur for several reasons:

• Your third molars only emerge partway, leaving a flap of gum covering them. This makes them difficult to clean and can lead to infection. This problem is normally caused by teeth trying to emerge without adequate space.
• Your wisdom teeth come in so far back that cleaning is difficult, leading to risks of infection
• Your wisdom teeth are impacted, or only emerge partway due to a lack of space. This can throw off your smile and cause problems later on.
• Your wisdom teeth come in crooked.

Most of the problems related to wisdom teeth come in the form of infection. See the image below for an example.

Preventing Problems

Periocoronitis, or an infection near the wisdom teeth, is the most common issue. It’s typically caused by a wisdom tooth that doesn’t have enough space to emerge, and so only emerges partway. This can lead to a flap of the gums remaining on top of the tooth, which allows infection to set in.

The most common treatment is good oral hygiene. Your dentist will often clean the area as well, and if an infection sets in may proscribe oral antibiotics. However, if this is not enough, your dentist may remove the gum flap itself or even the wisdom tooth.

If you’re having dental issues, it’s important to see your dentist as soon as possible. These problems can fester and become worse if left untreated.

Is Extraction Necessary?

There are costs and benefits associated with pulling out your wisdom teeth, and the net effect will depend on your individual issue.

Removal is fairly common for young adults, but a recent study suggested that 60% of these removals—resulting in procedures for 3 million people per year—aren’t necessary.

Apart from the cost and discomfort of surgery, there are occasional dangers associated with extraction. Paresthesia, which refers to the numbness of the cheek, lip, and tongue caused by nerve damage, is an uncommon side effect of surgery. Between 0.4% and about 8.4% of patients experience this condition. While the odds are low, it may dissuade some people from having their third molars removed. However, tooth removal can also be an important part of oral health. If your wisdom teeth are damaging other teeth, swelling your gums, or affecting your jawline, than removal is often essential. There are also cases wherein a cyst (fluid-filled sac) may grow around the tooth. This may damage the surrounding bone and tissue. If you’re experiencing pain or bleeding in the back of your mouth, this may point to problems with how your back teeth come in.

Many dentists will also remove third molars based on X-rays that show that they’re fine now but may cause problems in the future. As people age, their jaws become more rigid, which makes removal more difficult. Because of this, your dentist may recommend you remove your wisdom teeth now rather than waiting until they become a problem.

If your dentist does recommend wisdom teeth removal, you don’t always have to act right away. You may have several months to weigh the pros and cons. However, if your wisdom teeth are truly causing problems, it’s best to remove them as soon as possible.

Written by Frank Versteeg, an outreach specialist with Sonrisa Family Dental.

The post Is Wisdom Tooth Removal Necessary? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.