Do Wisdom Teeth Always Need to Be Removed?

Wisdom teeth may have served a purpose once, but in modern society, they’re more likely to cause problems. Wisdom teeth frequently cause oral health issues and are routinely extracted. Here’s why.

Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, are the last adult teeth to erupt, typically between the ages of 17 and 25, though not everyone has them. Wisdom teeth can sometimes grow without issues, but more often, they cause crowding or fail to fully emerge.

At Sabrina E. Mickel DDS & Associates in Beachwood, Ohio, we regularly extract wisdom teeth for patients with problems related to these molars because they are largely vestigial, i.e., not essential for contemporary life.

Do wisdom teeth always need to be removed?

Should your wisdom teeth come in normally without complications or crowding of teeth, then no, they don’t need to be extracted.

Is it likely my wisdom teeth will erupt trouble-free?

The chances of all four wisdom teeth coming in without problems are relatively low. About 80% of the young adult population in the country has at least one third molar that stays inside the jaw or gums.

What problems do wisdom teeth cause?

Wisdom teeth that don’t erupt are called impacted teeth. They may not break through the gums, or they may be oriented sideways in the bone of the jaw. Roots can be curled or they may fuse together.

Common problems caused by impacted wisdom teeth include:

Alignment issues for other teeth
Changes to your natural bite
Cavities
Cysts
Local damage to other teeth
Gum disease
Infections
Tumors

Pain is the primary symptom caused by impacted teeth. It can come from the wisdom teeth themselves, from pressure on nerves, or from interference with the operation of the jaw joint.

How are wisdom teeth extracted?

The nature of your extractions depends on the condition of your wisdom teeth. When teeth are fully impacted in your jaw, the procedure may need to be done in a hospital.

Often, extractions can be handled in our office. We recommend wisdom tooth extraction around your late teens to early 20s for the best results and fewest complications.

The extraction procedure follows these general steps:

Anesthesia: to keep you comfortable, including sedation to help you relax
Incisions: for access to your wisdom teeth
Removal of bone: if needed, to free a tooth
Loosening: detaching the connective tissue and dividing the tooth if necessary
Extraction: removing the tooth or tooth pieces
Cleaning the socket: the wound area is cleaned of debris and covered with gauze to aid the formation of a blood clot
Sutures: stitches are usually required to close incisions

Your post-surgery care protocols depend on your procedure and the steps needed to complete the extraction. Dr. Mickel prescribes appropriate pain management medications for your comfort.

Contact Sabrina E. Mickel DDS & Associates when it’s time to address impacted wisdom teeth. Call or click to book a consultation with our Beachwood office today.