Posted by Meghan Weaver on Mon, May 03, 2010 @ 10:43 AM
Your wisdom teeth can be a very valuable asset to your mouth when they're healthy and in the right place. However, not all mouths are created alike and some people develop problems that require wisdom teeth to be removed.
How do you know if your wisdom teeth should stay or go, here are 3 instances where extraction of wisdom teeth is recommended:
- Wisdom teeth are only partially erupt (i.e. they only come in part way through your gum): This leaves an opening for bacteria to enter around the tooth and cause a painful infection that can lead to systemic illness.
- Wisdom teeth are poorly aligned and there's a chance that they'll damage adjacent teeth
- A cyst (fluid-filled sac) forms, destroying surrounding structures such as bone or tooth roots.
The first two instances where extraction is recommended are the result of impacted and/or misaligned teeth. These result when your jaw isn't large enough to accommodate wisdom teeth so the teeth are forced to grow in sideways, part-ways or remain trapped in your jawbone.
As soon as it is determined that the wisdom teeth are or will become impacted, they should be removed. This can often be determined by age 16 or 17 when an individual's jaw has reached the majority of its adult size.
It's often best for patients to get impacted wisdom teeth removed in their mid-teens because the roots not fully formed yet. This makes the removal easier and less traumatic for the patient and recovery from the surgery is generally a lot quicker.
To find out about the health and positioning of your wisdom teeth, consult your dentist. He or she can help you determine whether or not the teeth are impacted and what next steps (if necessary) you should take.