FAQ: When Should I Remove Wisdom Teeth?

We’ll preface this by saying it usually is “wise” to remove your wisdom teeth at some point.

So the question remains, “when should I remove my wisdom teeth?”. It’s a good question, too.

When a child enters teenage years, monitor their wisdom teeth.

Many dentists recommend that the best time to remove wisdom teeth is during the upper half of teenage years, specifically 17-21 years of age. The reason being is because the roots of each wisdom tooth have not completely formed – making for an easier extraction.

What Purpose Do Wisdom Teeth Serve?

Part of the reason dentists encourage wisdom tooth removal are because they actually do not serve a real purpose. In fact, they tend to cause more harm than good.

Scientists have theorized that wisdom teeth served a purpose during prehistoric times where humans had larger jaws. Over time, we have developed smaller jaws that a large majority of people cannot support.

Wisdom teeth have a tendency to:

• Come in halfway
• Not come in at all
• Come in trapped under the gum line (i.e. impacted)
• Cause surrounding teeth to move from their normal position
• Cause infection
• Cause gum recession

As you can see, the potential for problems caused by wisdom teeth is pretty high – which is why it is recommended to have them removed even if you are not suffering. Wisdom teeth may cause problems at any age so as a proactive measure, it is strongly recommended to have them all removed to avoid issues later on.

Impacted wisdom teeth are a bit trickier to deal with and may have to be seen by an oral surgeon, otherwise your dentist can perform the extraction.

We offer wisdom tooth removal in Las Vegas at Floss Dental & Orthodontics.

Wisdom Teeth

When people hear "wisdom teeth" they might associate the term with painful extractions and swollen "chipmunk" cheeks. While wisdom teeth extractions are not painless, they are often necessary to prevent serious health problems. The development of these molars happen around age 17 to 21, and most adults do not have enough room for them, causing impaction.

Impacted wisdom teeth can cause movement in your teeth alignment, decay, and even cysts and tumors. Because of these complications, and the fact that nine out of ten adults will have at least one impacted wisdom tooth, wisdom teeth removal is a common practice.

If you have your wisdom teeth removed, the recovery time will vary depending on how many are removed and how quickly your gums heal. It usually doesn't take longer than about one week. Try to avoid foods with jagged edges that can puncture the affected area. Eat soft foods whenever possible, and don't forget to take any prescribed antibiotics and painkillers.

Visit our site to learn more about wisdom teeth and why, in some cases, they need to be removed.