When Do Wisdom Teeth Require Removal?

“How do I know if my wisdom teeth need to be removed?” This is an understandable concern since hardly anyone looks forward to Oral Surgery!

Wisdom teeth are the third molars in the very back of your mouth. Sometimes they come in just fine, giving you a full set of 32 teeth and no treatment is needed. But those instances are rare. The average human mouth can only fit 28 healthy teeth. More often than not, Wisdom teeth remain “impacted” – partly or completely under gum and bone. They cause trouble even if you feel no discomfort or cannot see them. Fortunately, as an expert Oral Surgeon, Dr.V can painlessly remove your impacted Wisdom Teeth with only a brief recovery period.

Some insurers and policy makers discourage treatment of wisdom teeth. This is not really based on what is best for you, rather on what is best for their bottom line.

Wisdom teeth should be removed as soon as you know they are impacted, and certainly when they cause discomfort, gum disease, or crowd other teeth. Your dentist can tell if yours are impacted. Dr.V can predict early on if they will erupt properly or remain impacted.

Top 5 Reasons To Remove Your Wisdom Teeth Sooner Rather Than Later:

5. Crowding. They can contribute to crowding of other teeth. Even after braces have given you a nice straight smile, wisdom teeth can contribute to a new set of crowding. Many Orthodontists recommend removal of Wisdom teeth before, during, or  right after Orthodontic treatment.

4. Periodontal (Gum) Disease. Wisdom teeth can erode into adjacent teeth, and can harbor bacteria that cause gum disease. Gum disease is often painless even when the gums bleed as you brush, and then other teeth begin shaking. Later on gum abscesses may form and the damage is often irreversible.

3. Health Problems. Inflammation is commonly present around impacted Wisdom teeth, even when painless. Inflammation is known to contribute to many health conditions, is associated with complications in pregnancy, low birth weight, and even miscarriage. Cysts and tumors can also form around impacted Wisdom Teeth that are kept too long.

2. Complications are much more likely from wisdom tooth removal on older patients. In addition, both surgery and recovery are easier in younger patients.

1. Peace of mind. Stop worrying! Early evaluation of your Wisdom teeth by a competent specialist will tell you if anything needs to be done.

Call Dr. V For Wisdom Teeth Questions

An Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon is the best source of information about your wisdom teeth. They can examine you and your X-rays to see how wisdom teeth are positioned and if they are likely to cause or be causing your problems. Sometimes only one or two teeth require removal, but in most cases, surgeons remove well informed patients choose to remove all 4  (or more, as some patients do have extra wisdom teeth).

If you’re concerned about your wisdom teeth, call for a consultation with Dr. V. He has extensive experience with wisdom teeth removal and all aspects of oral surgery. Dr.V has 6 years of specialty surgery training beyond what general dentists receive. He is also Board Certified to provide deep sedation and general anesthesia for safety and comfort during surgery. He utilizes the latest technology and methods to provide patients with a minimally-invasive solution for wisdom teeth removal.

Visit www.drvoms.com or call us at 407-599-1221 to learn more about wisdom teeth removal.

The above is general information only, and is not to be considered professional advice.