Why Remove Wisdom Teeth?

And even if you don’t have any obvious issues with your wisdom teeth, your dentist may advise removing them anyway. This is because wisdom teeth are one of the biggest troublemakers when it comes to dental problems.

The wisdom teeth are the final teeth to emerge, and the majority of people don’t actually have space for them in their mouths. This leads to a problem where the teeth become impacted, and they try to emerge incorrectly.

In this guide, we’re exploring the role of wisdom teeth in the mouth and why your dentist might recommend removing them. We’ll also look at the removal procedure and recovery process so you can be prepared for anything.

Why do we have wisdom teeth?

The wisdom teeth are an additional set of molars that are the final set to emerge. Most people get their wisdom teeth in their early 20s, but they could emerge much later. If there is space for these teeth, they will emerge without a problem and you will simply have additional molars. But most people don’t have space for the additional teeth to emerge.

Partially emerged wisdom teeth can leave pockets where bacteria and food debris can build up, which can lead to tooth decay. The wisdom teeth can also become impacted, which is when there is no space for them to emerge, so they emerge at an angle. This causes them to push into the rear molars in your mouth and become stuck.

Many people will never have a problem but, for some, the risk of impacted wisdom teeth is significant. Symptoms that your wisdom teeth might be impacted include:

• Pain or swelling of the jaw

• Swollen or bleeding gums

• Bad taste in the mouth

Any or all of these symptoms could indicate an infection or a problem with your wisdom teeth. Left untreated, your impacted wisdom teeth will provide a place for bacteria to multiply, which will attack your wisdom teeth and surrounding teeth. This can lead to tooth decay which can be very painful and sometimes even life threatening.

Why should you have your wisdom teeth removed?

Removing the wisdom teeth can make space in your jaw and prevent issues with the alignment of your teeth. If your jaw clicks when you open your mouth, this could be a sign that there isn’t enough space for your wisdom teeth. Removing the teeth will prevent issues with your jaw further down the line.

If the gums at the back of your mouth are painful, this could be a sign that you have an impacted wisdom tooth. This can be very uncomfortable and should be removed to help alleviate the pain.

You might also have your wisdom teeth removed before starting orthodontic treatment. This can create space in your mouth for your remaining teeth to align correctly. Since your wisdom teeth are at the back of your mouth, they aren’t as important and won’t be missed.

Removing your wisdom teeth can also help to tackle headaches linked to your jaw alignment. This can be a huge source of relief for patients who have had mystery headaches or earaches that seemingly aren’t linked to anything else.

The wisdom tooth removal procedure and recovery

If your dentist informs you that you have to have your wisdom teeth removed, don’t panic. This is a routine procedure and not something you should worry about.

An extraction is pain-free as you will be numbed throughout the procedure. You might feel pressure, but not pain. A simple extraction can often be carried out in your usual dental practice, but if you need to have all four wisdom teeth removed, or if the treatment is more complex, you may be referred to the hospital for your appointment.

After the treatment, you might have some tenderness at the extraction site, but this can be managed with over the counter pain medication. It usually takes around 7-10 days to fully heal from an extraction. You might have some swelling and tenderness in your jaw during this time.

Final thoughts on why we remove wisdom teeth

If your wisdom teeth are causing any problems or they have the potential to cause problems in the future, it’s often wise to remove them sooner rather than later. This can avoid complications including tooth decay and damage to the surrounding teeth if the wisdom teeth emerge incorrectly or not fully.

We can guide you through the process of removing your wisdom teeth from start to finish. If you’re experiencing any pain associated with your wisdom teeth or unexplained issues with your jaw, book an appointment with our team. We can use X-ray imaging to better understand the alignment of your wisdom teeth and how this might be causing issues.