Wisdom teeth have a name that suggests great age and distinction—but the reality of these third molars can be a problem for as many as 80% of adolescents and young adults. Unlike teething as a baby, wisdom teeth sometimes come in unnoticed. That said, partially-erupted or impacted wisdom teeth have become increasingly common, and bring discomfort and complications that can be enormously painful.
Wisdom teeth that don’t erupt straight up, in-line with the rest of your teeth are considered impacted. Some wisdom teeth are only partially impacted, moving diagonally into the teeth in front of them. But they can also grow horizontally into neighboring molars, putting a great deal of pressure on other teeth.
Your wisdom teeth aren’t able to properly erupt when they’re impacted. But sometimes, even if they’re lined up and have developed perfectly beneath your gums, eruption still fails to take place for other reasons.
All of these cases are becoming more common, and in most scenarios the best solution for your overall oral health is to have your wisdom teeth removed.
What scenarios really require getting your wisdom teeth removed?
There’s no guaranteed time when wisdom teeth come in. And, for some people, they never come in at all. And sometimes, after coming in healthy and in-line with your other teeth, they ultimately need to be removed for other reasons.
These are some of the common cases where wisdom teeth need to be removed right away:
- When your wisdom teeth are partially or fully impacted. This will cause disruptive pressure against neighboring teeth, and can potentially cause displacement of the rest of the teeth in your mouth, too.
- When your wisdom teeth come in, but do not bite well against opposing teeth. This can be not only inconvenient, but painful when speaking and eating.
- When wisdom teeth are only partially erupted. The continued pressure as your wisdom teeth try to erupt can become very painful, and a partially-erupted tooth is an invitation for infection or cysts deep in your gums.
- When wisdom teeth are placed so far back, or so snugly against the back of your mouth, that you are unable to clean them properly. If you can’t keep wisdom teeth clean, they’re more likely to have decay.
In what cases can you skip pulling your wisdom teeth?
No one wants to undergo an unnecessary tooth extraction, and there are occasions where your third molars won’t be at risk of complications. These are the cases where your wisdom teeth erupt fully and in-line with the rest of your teeth. And, just as importantly, healthy wisdom teeth have to be accessible for proper oral hygiene.
Even when wisdom teeth are accessible for cleaning, by being so far back in your mouth they still get less brushing. When wisdom teeth experience decay, it’s increasingly common to pull them instead of fill the cavities.
The more time you pass with your wisdom teeth fully erupted without any complications, the more likely it is that your wisdom teeth will remain unproblematic. Some people do choose to extract them preventatively because of the above complications. It depends on your eating and oral hygiene habits, too. If you still have them, ask about your wisdom teeth the next time you’re in the office!
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