Do I have to remove my wisdom teeth?

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Having one’s wisdom removed is typically a normal procedure that most everyone must go through. Every so often, there is a handful of people whose wisdom teeth begin growing into their mouths in that they are correctly positioned where there is enough room, and they are not causing any pain or other dental issues. But generally, having one’s wisdom teeth removed is just another part of the high school experience and growing into a young adult. The wisdom teeth will either come in without any problems, or they will attempt to emerge and cause pain or begin pushing on the other teeth, which can lead to various dental issues. It is important to recognize though, that even if the wisdom teeth are not causing pain, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t a danger to your dental health and aesthetics.

When the wisdom teeth, also known as the third molars, are stuck or impacted, they then lie within the jaw unable to break through, sometimes even horizontally. If your mouth is too small for them or if they come in at the wrong angle it can be quite problematic. Not only can the teeth affect your current teeth, but if they are unable to break through or if they come in at the wrong angle, it can lead to infection or cysts in the mouth. The best thing for you to do is to make sure that you keep an eye on the wisdom teeth at your annual dentist visits in order to ensure they aren’t causing any problems. It is possible that removal won’t be necessary, but most dentists believe that it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Many dentists believe that the smartest thing to do, is to have the wisdom teeth removed at a younger age, usually in the mid-teens. Some dentists insist on removing the wisdom teeth before they even begin to emerge. This is because as we age, our bones (jaws) become harder and more fragile, and the roots of our teeth set in much stronger. Waiting too long to have the wisdom teeth removed can not only cause lifelong dental issues, but can result in an extremely painful extraction later on; Whereas if the wisdom teeth were removed when the person was much younger, it is a pretty uncomplicated procedure and our bodies are able to heal much quicker at a younger age. It has been seen in a few cases, that waiting too long can even result in damaging the jaw bone in the process of removing the wisdom teeth.

You may be one of the few who doesn’t need to have your wisdom teeth removed, but it is best to seek the opinion of your Irving dentist. But not to worry, if you are needing your wisdom teeth removed, you can look forward to a lot of lounging and frozen yogurt. If you are looking for the right dentist for your wisdom teeth removal in Las Colinas, here at Cosmetic and Family Dentistry, we can help. So, keep smiling and contact us today.