Although about 10-20% of people don’t get wisdom teeth, for the majority of Americans, having their wisdom teeth removed has become a rite of passage. But is this oral surgery to remove the teeth that rupture between ages 18 and 24 always necessary?
At Robert F. Wilcox, DMD, PC, in Butte, Montana, Dr. “Bob” Wilcox and our dental care team are committed to giving you the information you need to make an informed decision about wisdom teeth extraction.
Read on to learn what you need to know about wisdom teeth and when it’s no longer wise to hold onto them.
As your molars grow in, the narrow back area of your jaw can become crowded. If space is tight, any wisdom teeth you develop probably won’t have enough room to break through your gums completely. The result? Impacted teeth, which increase your risk for dental issues.
Wisdom teeth can cause serious problems even if they do manage to erupt fully. Because space is already tight, these final adult molars can push your other teeth out of alignment or grow in the wrong direction. This can lead to tooth decay and other oral health issues, like infection or cysts.
Because of their hard-to-see location, many people don’t notice symptoms of these problems until the damage reaches the wisdom tooth’s root. Once the root is involved, the extraction can be more complicated and painful.
At Robert F. Wilcox, DMD, PC, we provide the best comprehensive care possible to prevent oral complications. Dr. Wilcox evaluates your overall dental health and the progress of your wisdom teeth to determine if and when your wisdom should be removed.
Sometimes it makes sense to remove wisdom teeth before their roots fully form to give you a less complicated surgery with faster recovery. You can keep an eye on the progress of your wisdom teeth by looking for the following signs:
Not all wisdom teeth require extraction. It’s possible for wisdom teeth to erupt as fully functional molars in a position that doesn’t interfere with your other teeth. This is something we can determine only through a thorough oral exam.
Dr. Wilcox checks your mouth for current and potential problems and monitors your wisdom teeth’s progress to keep you informed.
You may be able to hold onto your wisdom teeth if they are:
If Dr. Wilcox recommends leaving your wisdom teeth in place, he monitors them at every checkup and takes X-rays when necessary to ensure he notices any signs of problems and addresses them early.
The best way to learn about your wisdom teeth is through a comprehensive oral exam at Robert F. Wilcox, DMD, PC. In addition to providing information about extractions, we offer a full line of dental services to meet all your oral health needs.
If you want to learn more about wisdom teeth and whether extraction is right for you, contact the Butte, Montana, office of Robert F. Wilcox, DMD, PC.
