What Happens If You Do Not Remove Your Wisdom Teeth
The modern human jaw has not evolved to support a third row of molars. At most, your wisdom teeth do nothing to impact your quality of life. At worst, they can crowd out other teeth as they emerge, causing a host of complications, including:
Pain: Your wisdom teeth pushing out other teeth is a painful experience.
Misalignment: Your teeth could become misaligned as they do not have the room to support emerging wisdom teeth. Consequences of misalignment include chewing and speaking difficulties and increased risk of tooth decay and gum diseases.
Jaw damage: Cysts can form around your wisdom teeth, inflicting nerve damage in your jaw.
Gum diseases: Overcrowding caused by wisdom teeth can cause swelling in your gums. This makes them harder to clean, increasing the risk of gingivitis and more severe periodontal diseases.
Cavities: Swollen gums are ideal repositories for bacteria, which can cause cavities in your teeth.
Given the health risks of keeping your wisdom teeth, many young adults opt to remove them as a precaution.
Is It Too Late To Remove Your Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are most easily extracted when they are still emerging. If you have missed this window, extraction can be more complicated. While risks of complications are slightly higher, removing your wisdom teeth may still be a better option than dealing with the health issues that they may cause.
Here is what you can expect for your wisdom tooth extraction:
- A local numbing agent or sedation anesthesia will be administered so that feel as little pain as possible
- A small incision is gently made in the gum tissue by the wisdom tooth, exposing the lower part of the tooth and the bone
- The bone blocking access to the tooth is removed
- The wisdom tooth is removed
- The removal site is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected of any germs and debris
- The wound is stitched to expedite the recovery process
- Gauze is applied to the wound to stop the bleeding
Successful wisdom teeth extraction usually takes 3 to 7 days to fully recover from. You may experience pain, swelling, and soreness in the meantime. To speed up your recovery, you can:
- Avoid intense physical activities
- Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking
- Regularly rinse your mouth with salt water to prevent infection
- Eat soft or liquid food
- Use a cold compress to reduce swelling
Calgary Wisdom Teeth Extraction
There is very little value in keeping your wisdom teeth. Not only is your jaw not equipped to accommodate a third row of molars, but emerging wisdom teeth can impact your oral health in a variety of ways. Patients who did not remove their wisdom teeth may return to their dentist with misaligned teeth, gum diseases, jaw damage, and cavities. Treating any of these conditions can be difficult一at least more so than having your wisdom teeth removed.
Wisdom teeth extraction is our specialty at Marlborough Dental Centre. Whether it is for preventive purposes or late-stage extraction, our dentists have the experience and tools to ensure a successful operation. Call our dental clinic at 403-248-2066 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a dental exam today.
FAQs
Q: What does it mean when a wisdom tooth is impacted?
A: A wisdom tooth is impacted when it does not have enough room to emerge or is stuck under the gum. Because the modern jaw has not evolved to accommodate wisdom teeth, overcrowding is a normal occurrence.
Q: When is the best time to have my wisdom teeth removed?
A: Your wisdom teeth are most easily removed when their root has yet to fully form. That is why many patients get their wisdom teeth removed while they are in their teens or early 20s.
Q: How much do wisdom teeth extractions cost?
A: The cost of the procedure depends on how impacted the teeth are. The more impacted they are, the more work for your dentist to remove them. Call us at 403-248-2066 fill out our online contact form for an estimate and to see whether you are eligible for any cost-sharing options with your insurance provider.
