When to Remove Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are removed due to either necessity or preventative measures. Most people’s mouths can only comfortably house 28 teeth – if you were to keep those extras, it would bring you to a grand total of 32.

However, there isn’t a clear consensus in the dental community about when the perfect time to get them removed is. Some people will never have to get them removed because the teeth grow in healthy and with plenty of space. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth for a majority of people. Here are a few of the most important things to consider when it comes to deciding when to remove wisdom teeth.

1. Are You in Pain?

This is perhaps the most obvious reason to remove wisdom teeth. If you are struggling to live your daily life because of teeth that are entirely unnecessary, then most dentists will not hesitate to remove them. The bit of discomfort you may feel during and after the surgery will be completely worth it if you are able to live the rest of your life without them causing ongoing pain.

2. Are the Teeth Impacted?

Even if your wisdom teeth have yet to cause you pain, they may cause issues further down the road. When a tooth is impacted, it means that it is stuck in one’s jaw and cannot fully emerge. When this occurs, it could cause infection or even partial loss of mobility in one’s jaw.

Dentists can check for this condition using x-rays, and if it is present, they will likely remove the teeth as soon as possible.

3. Is There Enough Room in Your Mouth?

Wisdom teeth generally emerge much later than all your others. This means there is a potential for a wisdom tooth to disrupt the healthy growing process of the others, potentially causing crowding or even damage.

If it is deemed that your mouth and other teeth could not support the emergence of wisdom teeth, then they may be preemptively removed, so no harm is done.

4. Will You Be Able to Maintain Healthy Dental Hygiene?

Sometimes when a wisdom tooth does not fully emerge into the mouth it can make it very difficult for it to be cleaned properly. Lack of appropriate cleanliness can lead to infection. If this appears to be happening in your mouth, then your dentist will likely remove the tooth.

Learn More About Wisdom Teeth Removal

These are a few critical conditions to look out for if you still haven’t had your wisdom teeth removed. However, some dentists argue that it is better to have them removed early before the bones in your jaw have fully developed so that the recovery process is less painful. But everyone’s mouth is different – if you’re wondering when to remove wisdom teeth, contact Coastal Dental today to get an expert opinion.

At Coastal Dental, we have plenty of experience with wisdom teeth and will be able to help no matter your situation. Regardless of whether you’re in pain or just want to be proactive about your dental health, call us today if you need your wisdom teeth removed!

We will be more than happy to help your pearly whites stay healthy and pain-free!