Wisdom Teeth Extraction
When you lose your baby teeth, they are replaced by a set of 28 permanent teeth. Many people (anywhere from 65 to 95 percent of adults), however, grow one to four additional molars between the ages of 17 and 21. They are commonly called wisdom teeth because they appear as you get older and more mature.
The exact reason we have wisdom teeth isn’t clear, but it may have been necessary for our ancient ancestors, who did not practice the same good oral hygiene that we do today, ate tougher foods and likely suffered tooth loss at a young age. Having another set of molars that grew in as they got older would be helpful for survival.
Monitoring Wisdom Teeth
Since most of us do not need a spare set of molars in our teens or early 20s, wisdom teeth can cause more harm than good when they come in. If your mouth doesn’t have enough room for another set of molars, the teeth could cause overcrowding and make other teeth crooked. If the teeth don’t grow in the correct position, it can lead to pain, or if there isn’t enough room, they could get trapped inside the gums or in your jaw (a condition called impacted wisdom teeth).
Our dentists monitor wisdom teeth for:
- Incorrect positioning that could shift other teeth around
- Improper growth that provides space for bacteria to multiply
- Partial eruption that leaves your gums susceptible to infection and bacteria
- Pain, swelling or stiffness in your jaw as wisdom teeth develop
- Impacted wisdom teeth that could damage the roots or bones of nearby teeth
Some patients may have wisdom teeth that grow in normally and can be left alone, but others may need to have these teeth removed. Since they are extra teeth, there are no long-term negative consequences to removing them when they start to come in. Your dentist may also recommend removing wisdom teeth sooner if you are getting braces or other orthodontic care to straighten teeth, since wisdom teeth that grow in in your late teens or early 20s could cause your teeth to shift back out of place after orthodontic care is complete.
Removing Your Wisdom Teeth
The dentists at Young Family Dental are skilled in removing wisdom teeth, and we can help you decide whether it’s the right decision based on your oral health, X-ray imaging and other factors such as whether you are planning to leave for an extended period for college or a religious mission. Some people are able to have wisdom teeth removed in a dental clinic with just a local anesthetic, while others may need to see an oral surgeon and go under full anesthesia. We can review your situation and discuss what will work best. If you decide to have the procedure done in our clinic, we’ll ensure that it is as painless as possible.
Schedule an appointment today with a dentist at any of our five convenient locations in Utah County (American Fork, Saratoga Springs and Orem) or Salt Lake County (Riverton and West Jordan). We have extensive experience and have performed thousands of wisdom teeth extraction procedures.
