If your dentist has recommended that your wisdom teeth be extracted, you may be wondering if this procedure is truly necessary. After all, they may not be bothering you, and who couldn’t benefit from a few extra teeth? But the truth is, while it may be fine to leave them in place if they’re not problematic, whether you can see it or not, if yours are causing oral health problems, getting those extra molars removed is the best choice for your smile. Here are three important reasons why your dentist may recommend wisdom tooth extraction, and how removing them will benefit your gorgeous grin!
Risk to Nearby Teeth
Since you don’t get your wisdom teeth until your permanent teeth are already in place, your extra molars could push them out of alignment. This can create a variety of oral health issues, including bite problems, overcrowding, and even pain. Worse yet, if they’re growing sideways, they can even break the roots of nearby teeth, requiring additional treatment to correct.
Jaw Damage
Your jaw is essential to your ability to eat, drink, speak, smile, and laugh. When your wisdom teeth become impacted within the jaw, they can shift your other teeth out of alignment, and it can even cause cysts to form alongside them. These in turn can hollow out your jawbones and damage the nerves of the surrounding teeth!
Poor Oral Hygiene
Maintaining excellent oral hygiene is the number one way to ensure that your smile lasts a lifetime. This includes brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily. Unfortunately, because wisdom teeth erupt at the very ends of your arches, they can be difficult to reach when cleaning your mouth. Thus, they become more susceptible to dangerous plaque buildup, cavities, and gum disease.
If your dentist notices you are suffering from any of these issues, or that your wisdom teeth will eventually lead to these problems, he will likely recommend that you have them extracted, either to stop a current problem from worsening or prevent a new one from developing.
Why Do You Get Wisdom Teeth, anyway?
Many patients wonder why they even get wisdom teeth when in many cases they need to be removed. The truth is that back in the days of our early ancestors, those “third molars” served an important purpose. You see, long ago, man ate a raw diet full of tough roots and raw meats. Since they didn’t have utensils back then, they relied on their teeth to do the cutting. Naturally, this wore them down faster, and by the time their wisdom teeth erupted in their late teens, they likely needed them. Thankfully, because their jaws were bigger and more powerful, they could easily accommodate them.
Today, however, modern cooking methods and utensils have rendered wisdom teeth largely unnecessary. Worse yet, because our jaws are significantly smaller than early man’s, we don’t have much room for them in the first place. Thus, they often cause more trouble than they’re worth and need to be removed. Incidentally, did you know that not everyone gets wisdom teeth, nor does everyone get four if they do? You can have up to six, and not necessarily an even number of them, either!
Remember, if your dentist has recommended wisdom tooth extraction, even if you aren’t noticing any issues yet doesn’t mean they’re safe to leave in place. Thus, be sure to discuss any questions or concerns you may have about removing them so you can make an informed decision that protects your smile and peace of mind for a lifetime.
About Dr. Saphner
Dr. Robert Saphner earned his undergraduate degree at Edgewood College and his dental degree at the University of Minnesota. Since graduating, he has amassed over 500 hours of continuing education and is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. He is also active in the American Dental Association and Wisconsin Dental Association. To schedule a consultation for wisdom tooth extraction at All Smiles, visit our website or call us today at 608-668-6415.