Is it necessary to remove wisdom teeth

Having wisdom teeth pulled has long been a rite of passage for many teens and young adults. For decades, dentists routinely warned teens and their parents that pesky wisdom teeth below the surface of the gums could not only harm other teeth, but they could also lead to infections, cysts and tooth decay. Unsurprisingly, many opted to extract those un-erupted teeth to avoid problems down the line. In this Friday, Jan. 22, 2016 photo, dental resident Madison Myers Galloway checks the teeth of Justin Perez, 11, during an office visit at Riley Hospital for Children's Department of Pediatric Dentistry in Indianapolis. A federal report says three out of four children did not receive all required dental services, such as regular checkups and fluoride treatments, in Medicaid programs in four states. One in four kids failed to see a dentist at all. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Michael Conroy / AP But, more are now questioning having their wisdom teeth removed when there’s nothing wrong with them. A recent It's uncertain exactly how many wisdom teeth are removed each year in the U.S., but there are widely cited estimates (without clear attribution) of nine million extractions, at a cost of approximately $3 billion. Teeth crowding? Oral surgeons once justified the extraction of third molars — the technical name for wisdom teeth —to avoid damaging the teeth in front of them. Allowing them to erupt could affect the alignment and even the integrity of other teeth, they said. But ortho...

Table of Contents [Hide] [Show] • + − • • • • • • • • • • • • + − • • • + − • • • • So, your dentist says you need to undergo wisdom teeth removal and you’re feeling a little apprehensive. Here’s everything you need to know before you go in for surgery (and how to ensure a speedy recovery) so you can go into the process feeling prepared. By the end of this post, you’ll know: • What to ask your dentist • What to expect during the procedure • What to expect in terms of pain • How to prevent a dry socket Ask the Dentist is supported by readers. If you use one of the links below and buy something, Ask the Dentist makes a little bit of money at no additional cost to you. I rigorously research, test, and use thousands of products every year, but recommend only a small fraction of these. I only promote products that I truly feel will be valuable to you in improving your oral health. How Necessary Is Wisdom Teeth Removal? Simply put, there isn’t enough room for wisdom teeth because our jaws don’t grow to be big enough to have enough space for them to come in. Since there isn’t enough room for them to erupt properly, wisdom teeth tend to come in at an angle or they don’t fully emerge, which causes problems for the rest of the mouth. Third molars (the wisdom teeth) routinely damage the teeth right next door, called second molars. Dentists recommend removing wisdom teeth before they become a problem and to avoid a more complicated surgery. In my practice, I see very few people who do...

Your wisdom teeth are the last of your adult teeth to emerge, typically appearing between the ages of 17 and 25. Since wisdom teeth come in so late, they often don’t have space to grow properly. They become impacted, meaning they grow sideways or only partially emerge through the gums. This can be painful and make brushing and flossing difficult. As a result, our dentists at Del Mar Family Dental Care & Orthodontics will recommend removing your wisdom teeth to avoid further problems. The Procedure for Dentist Wisdom Teeth Removal Your dentist will give you an injection to numb the area where the tooth will be removed. They will then use a unique tool to loosen and gently wiggle the tooth until it breaks free from the gum. The tooth may need to be broken into smaller pieces to make removing it easier. If it is impacted, your surgeon may have to cut into the gums and jaw bone to remove it. Stitches may be necessary to close the gum edges. After the procedure, your jaw may be sore, but your dentist can prescribe pain medications to alleviate your discomfort. Most people can return to work the next day, although some may need rest days before resuming normal activities. Reason for Wisdom Teeth Removal Impacted Wisdom Teeth When wisdom teeth do not have sufficient space to erupt, they may grow at an improper angle, facing forward or backward. This can cause strain on the jaw, mouth, and teeth as they attempt to push through the gums. Pain and discomfort are common symptoms that...

Your dentist says it’s time to remove your Why Take Them Out? • They’re impacted. Because they're so far back in your • They come in at the wrong angle. They may press against your other • Your mouth isn’t big enough. Your jaw has no room for an extra set of molars. • You have cavities or gum disease . You may not be able to reach your wisdom teeth with your Before Surgery You’ll meet with the oral surgeon to talk about the process. At this appointment, make sure you: • Talk about any health problems you have. • List any drugs you take on a regular basis. • Ask any questions you have about the surgery. • Discuss what type of anesthesia you’ll have. You can either be numb or asleep during your surgery. • Plan time off from work or school to have your surgery and rest afterward at home. Set up During Surgery Your surgery should take 45 minutes or less. You’ll get one of these types of anesthesia so you don’t feel pain during the removal: • Local: Your doctor will numb your mouth with a shot of local anesthetic such as novocaine, lidocaine or mepivicaine. You may also breathe nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, to relax or even doze during surgery. You should feel alert again shortly afterward. • IV sedation: The surgeon will numb your mouth and also give you drugs through a vein in your arm to make you drowsy. You might sleep during the whole procedure. • General: You’ll either get drugs through a vein or breathe gas in through a mask. You’ll be asleep the whole time and might n...

Do Wisdom Teeth Have to be Removed? Wisdom teeth are the third molars in the very back of our mouths and don’t always need to be removed so long as they’re healthy, grown in completely, biting correctly, and are able to be cleaned as part of regular hygiene practices. Often, wisdom teeth don’t have room to grow properly and end up creating problems for your other teeth. Through X-rays and scans of the mouth and jaw, dentists can predict problems with your wisdom teeth before they arise, which means you may not have pain when your dentist recommends an Wisdom teeth that erupt can grow in at various angles, sometimes horizontally, and lead to a myriad of more serious problems such as: • Staying completely hidden inside the jaw, becoming impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth can sometimes cause pathologies such as cysts, and tumors • Only emerging partly through the gums, creating a passageway for bacteria. Becausewisdom teeth are hard to reach as a part of everyday cleaning, a partially emerged wisdom tooth allows for bacteria to grow, increasing the chances of gum disease or infection. • Crowd nearby teeth. If wisdom teeth don’t have the proper amount of space when they emerge, they may crowd or damage other teeth. • Wisdom teeth are hard to keep clean and cause cavities that cannot be restored. I normally recommend to my patients that we remove wisdom teeth in their late teens. Removing the teeth at a younger age before the roots are fully formed makes for an easier surgery and ...