Why Wisdom Teeth, Why Now?

Wondering why you or your teen need to have your wisdom teeth removed?  Can't you just keep them?  Of course you can, but we're here to tell you why you would benefit from having them extracted.  Feel free to post any questions you may have.

Root Development

As the wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, develop, the roots become longer and more deeply embedded in the jaw bone.  The ideal time to remove a wisdom tooth is when the root is one third to two thirds formed.  This period of root development usually falls between the ages of 14 to 18.  A tooth with fully developed roots is more likely to lead to jaw fracture and nerve damage.

Delayed Healing With Age

Yet another reason to have wisdom teeth removed during the teen years is youth's greater ability to heal from dental surgery.  The time required for recovery will be longer for adults...meaning more unwanted time away from your busy schedule.

Decay on Adjacent Teeth

Because the wisdom teeth often do not erupt into full function, they may be partially present in the mouth.  Depending on the angle and position, these teeth can impinge on the second molars (the teeth just in front of the wisdom teeth), causing an inability to remove plaque which leads to decay.  The damage done to these molars that are needed must then be remedied with fillings or  more expensive crowns.

Pericornitis

A fancy word for an infection that occurs in the gums surrounding the tooth, pericornitis is chronic in nature and best remedied by extracting the tooth affected so that the gum tissue can heal. Pericornitis is inflammation that literally takes place "around the crown"; the gums will appear red and puffy, and at times, pus will drain from the area. When the tooth is partially erupted, the bacteria that multiply under the gums and around the tooth cannot be removed by traditional brushing, and the area will be continually affected until the source of infection (wisdom tooth) is removed.

Cysts

A fluid filled sac can form around the wisdom tooth, and often is only discovered by dental xray. This is due to the fact that cysts usually are not symptomatic in nature. If left untreated, however,  a cyst can be responsible for the destruction of healthy bone, leading to a higher possibility of jaw fracture.