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Is Wisdom Teeth Removal Always Necessary?

It's very common for people to be completely oblivious to what wisdom teeth are and the role they play in your mouth. Many people first hear about their wisdom teeth when it's time to remove them, making this a nerve-wracking dental procedure

Wisdom teeth are often the last teeth to come in. For some, they will come in perfectly fine and won’t result in any pain. For others, they could come in crooked and pose a threat to surrounding teeth. Either way, most dentists will suggest wisdom teeth removal whether there’s pain involved or not.

This is where the confusion will often settle in for dental patients.

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth are a set of molars that often form in your late-teen years to early twenties. They are located in the back of the mouth in each corner. There are a total of four wisdom teeth.

When properly aligned, they can be a valuable asset to your teeth. Unfortunately, most wisdom teeth are misaligned and could present pain, swelling, and damage to adjacent teeth. Dentists will monitor a patient’s wisdom teeth via X-Rays, which should be included in regular check ups.

When Is It Time To See a Doctor?

Many dentists will suggest wisdom teeth removal before the patient experiences any pain. In some cases, this could happen well before the patient even begins to see the wisdom teeth coming in.

Wisdom teeth removal is a serious dental surgery that is sure to be nerve-wrecking for any patient -- not to forget the medical bill that will follow. This will cause many to wonder why wisdom teeth removal is necessary in some scenarios.

When your dentist takes X-Rays of your teeth, they are able to monitor incoming wisdom teeth through the gums. This allows your dentist to detect misaligned wisdom teeth before any pain is experienced. This can help prevent damage to other teeth by removing the wisdom teeth before breaking the gum barrier.

Likewise, wisdom teeth can get stuck and won’t be able to break through your jaw or gums. Your mouth could be too small for them.

If you haven’t had your wisdom teeth removed, your next dentist appointment would be a great opportunity to ask about them. They will be able to give you the current status of them and will let you know whether removal is necessary.

Dentists might even suggest removal if they fear problems in the future -- near or far. As we grow older, our bones in our mouth get harder. As a result, removing the teeth gets far more difficult as we age. This is yet another reason why many dentists suggest removal as early as possible.

Great Neck Family Dentist Is Here To Help!

We sincerely believe that no one should feel uncomfortable with their smile. More importantly, no one should experience pain with their smile. Great Neck Family Dentist is here for all of your general, cosmetic, and restorative dental needs -- including wisdom teeth removal.

If you’re ready to inquire about the status of your wisdom teeth, give us a call at (516) 482-9140 today!