Why Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Extracted

Find out why most teens and adults will need to have these molars removed.

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars to come in. They usually appear during the late teen years. Of course, our Peoria and Glendale dentist Dr. Yati Yadav will continue to monitor your wisdom teeth through routine checkups every six months and x-rays each year to see how they are developing. More often than not, wisdom teeth will need to be removed. You may be wondering, “They don’t hurt or bother me, so why do they need to come out?”

Just because your wisdom teeth aren’t causing you issues doesn’t mean that they aren’t actually causing problems for your oral health. Most of the time these molars are impacted, which means that they never fully erupt through the gums. This can happen for several reasons: your wisdom teeth may be coming in crooked or your mouth might be too small to accommodate these new teeth. If your wisdom teeth are coming in at an angle they could also damage neighboring teeth as they start to grow in.

When should I have my wisdom teeth removed?

When you come in for your consultation, our Peoria and Glendale dentist will take x-rays to see how your wisdom teeth are coming in. Your wisdom teeth may need to come out if:

• They are going to damage other teeth: as we mentioned, if these teeth come in crooked they can damage other healthy teeth
• They are causing jaw problems: sometimes cysts form on wisdom teeth, which can damage the jawbone and the nerves
• They increase your risk for infection or cavity: since the tooth has only partially erupted through the gums this leaves an opening where bacteria or a cavity can easily form
• They could affect the alignment of your smile: if there isn’t enough room for these wisdom teeth to come in they could end up affecting your straight smile, leading to crowding or crooked, twisted teeth

Still not convinced that you want to live life without these teeth? While you don’t have to worry about losing your wisdom if we extract these molars we also understand that you may want to wait and see what your teeth do. We can wait a few months and then come back in and monitor the situation; however, if you are experiencing pain or chronic bad breath then it’s time to part with your wisdom teeth.

Do you want to discuss your options when it comes to your wisdom teeth? If so, then it’s time to schedule a consultation with Your Family Dentist. We have an office in Peoria, AZ, but we are proud to serve the Glendale, AZ, area. Call our dental office today.