Should wisdom teeth always be pulled? Experts answer

When wisdom teeth appear

Wisdom teeth do not develop in the mouth until early adolescence. They usually start appearing on dental X-rays under the gums between the ages of 8 and 15. In some people, they never develop at all.

According to the American Dental Association, these teeth may take several years to emerge through the gums. Most wisdom teeth grow in or erupt between the ages of 17 and 21. However, in some cases, they never fully erupt or only partially emerge.

Wisdom teeth are located at the very back of the mouth, at the end of each side of the upper and lower jaw.

Common problems

One of the most common issues is impaction — when a tooth becomes stuck under the gums or bone.

A tooth can be impacted because the jaw is too small to fit it, or because it is angled incorrectly while trying to emerge. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause:

• Pericoronitis — infection and inflammation of the tissue around an impacted wisdom tooth, often causing pain and swelling.

• Cavities — if the impacted tooth is angled against a neighboring tooth, it can be hard to clean the area, leading to decay.

• Periodontitis — infection of the supporting tissue around teeth; untreated periodontitis can destroy bone around the roots.

• Root resorption — the roots of the wisdom tooth or nearby teeth may be damaged or destroyed.

When to remove wisdom teeth

According to Frontiersin, wisdom tooth removal is one of the most common surgeries for young people. Many adults have had at least one wisdom tooth extracted.

Surgical removal is recommended when wisdom teeth:

• Cause pain;

• Damage to other teeth;

• Develop or contribute to cavities;

• Pose a risk for or causes periodontitis.

If wisdom teeth emerge and cause no problems, they do not need to be removed.

Risks of surgical removal

Wisdom tooth extraction can cause complications, including:

• Dry socket — occurs when the blood clot covering the extraction site shifts, potentially leading to infection and exposure of nerves or bone.

• Infection — bacteria and food particles can accumulate in or around the extraction site, sometimes weeks or months after surgery.

• Nerve damage — depending on the tooth’s position and depth, surgery may injure nerves in the mouth, causing pain, numbness, or tingling.

Earlier, we wrote about how to enjoy sweets without harming your teeth.

This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.