Many people wonder, “Why do wisdom teeth require removal”? You are probably thinking that if the teeth have grown in, they must be there for a reason. This is not necessarily true. The molars in the back of your teeth are more than enough to chew your food, therefore, your wisdom teeth do not have much of a purpose.
When Wisdom Teeth Do Not Require Removal
There are certain circumstances where you do not need to have your wisdom teeth removed. You need to fall into each of the four categories in order to avoid wisdom tooth extraction. Just falling into one or two categories is not enough. Unfortunately, this does not happen very often.
Healthy: In order for you to avoid having your wisdom teeth extracted, they need to be healthy and cavity free.
Grown in completely: Your wisdom teeth need to be grown in completely in order for you to avoid extraction. If the tooth grows in partially, and is impacted, the tooth will need to be extracted.
Correct positioning: In order to avoid extraction, you wisdom teeth must be lined up properly with the opposite teeth.
Access for cleaning: You must have full access to brush your wisdom teeth to avoid extraction.
Why Do Wisdom Teeth Require Removal?
While there are a few circumstances where you can keep your wisdom teeth, there are several reasons why you should have them removed.
Growth: Wisdom teeth do not always grow like your other teeth. Often times, the tooth can grow at various angles, even horizontally. This can cause problems and the tooth would need to be removed.
Trapped in the jaw: Often times, wisdom teeth do not grow all the way through. They can become trapped in the jaw, making it imperative that they are removed. When they emerge only partially, they can become a breeding ground for bacteria, causing an infection.
Damage to nearby teeth: Your wisdom teeth can grow in with great force, and can cause damage to the nearby teeth. To prevent serious damage, you would need to have the tooth removed.
Cysts: Often times, wisdom teeth can cause fluid filled sacs on the gums around the tooth. This can cause infection. Removing the wisdom tooth will take care of the cyst.
Extensive tooth decay: If your wisdom tooth is seriously decayed, you would need to have it removed. Wisdom teeth are not like other teeth, where the dentist would do a root canal or fill a cavity.
Gum disease: If your wisdom teeth are causing gum disease, they would need to be extracted immediately. This will stop the disease from spreading.
Repeated infection: If the soft tissue behind the lower last tooth becomes infected often, it will be best to extract the tooth.
Pain: Your wisdom teeth can cause a great deal of pain for many reasons. They may be decayed, growing in wrong, or causing infection. The only way to stop the pain is to have them extracted.
Having your wisdom teeth removed may not be pleasant, and may cause a great deal of anxiety. Unfortunately, in many cases, it is necessary to prevent pain and oral health problems in the future.