Wisdom teeth are a third set of molars located at the very back of your upper and lower jaws. They are the last set of teeth to develop and emerge after all of your other permanent teeth are in place. Dental professionals often recommend having these teeth extracted in your teens or early twenties to mitigate future problems. Avoiding having wisdom teeth removal performed comes with a variety of potential oral health risks.
How Declining Wisdom Teeth Removal Can Impact Your Oral Health
One of the primary problems with wisdom teeth is that 98% of people do not have adequate space available to accommodate these additional molars. The jaws are typically too small for wisdom teeth to comfortably fit without interfering with adjacent teeth.
If the third molars are able to fully erupt vertically, they end up creating a problem with overcrowding. Existing teeth are pushed out of alignment and may become crooked, affecting not just the appearance of your smile, but also its function. Misaligned teeth can cause difficulty with chewing, and overcrowding can make it easier for food debris to get caught between the teeth. It also makes it harder to clean your teeth, which can increase your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Furthermore, the pressure created from wisdom teeth crowding adjacent teeth can be painful and leave your mouth feeling sore.
Consequences of Impaction
In many cases, because there is not enough room in the jaw to accommodate the wisdom teeth, these teeth are not able to fully erupt through the gums. Instead of emerging vertically, the teeth grow in at an angle and are trapped partially or wholly underneath the gums, within the jawbone, or even underneath adjacent teeth. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause oral pain because the new molars are not positioned correctly and are putting pressure on other teeth, your gums, and your jaw.
Impaction can also lead to complications such as tooth decay from the wisdom teeth rubbing against adjacent teeth as they try to erupt or shift position. If these molars partially erupt through the gums, it is easier for particles of food and bacteria to become trapped, which can lead to gum disease or other infections.
When the wisdom teeth do not emerge fully or completely vertically, there is also a greater potential for oral cysts to form around the tooth below the gums and a higher risk of developing oral cancer.
Preventing Issues with Wisdom Teeth
Undergoing wisdom teeth removal can proactively avoid many of these issues. Radiographic images can show how the third molars are developing, how they are positioned, and whether there is enough space for them to properly integrate with your smile without causing overcrowding or other problems. If any concerns are noted, extraction is typically recommended.
At Premier Center for Oral, Dental Implant & Facial Surgery, wisdom teeth removal is a procedure that is commonly performed by Dr. Garibyan and Dr. Kuang to prevent potential problems and maintain a more beautiful, functional smile. Learn more about the wisdom teeth removal process on our website.
