When children or young adults reach their teenage years
to early twenties, their wisdom teeth (3rd molars) become more fully
developed and may begin to erupt from the gums. The problem that many face is there
isn’t adequate room for the teeth to fit. The resulting impacted wisdom teeth
can cause problems with the jaw and adjacent teeth, which is why we typically
recommend removal of all wisdom teeth at a young age.
When the wisdom
teeth do not have enough room to fully erupt, the gums can experience chronic
pain. The tissue that partially covers the exposed tooth creates a trap for
extra food and bacteria to gather and proliferate. The painful condition that
results is called pericoronitis and can only be definitively treated through
extraction of the wisdom teeth affected. If you only try to remove the extra
tissue, it will usually return in the future and the same problem will persist.
There is also a concern that impacted wisdom teeth can
lead to problems with adjacent teeth. If the tooth erupts horizontally into the
tooth in front, a deep pocket can be formed. This may become a bacteria trap
and decay may start on the tooth or even the root. In some extreme cases, the
tooth may be non-restorable and may also need to be removed. There was
previously a thought that a sideways wisdom tooth could also cause crowding
amongst the surrounding teeth. However, more recent studies have found that the
presence of wisdom teeth do not push the other teeth together. We now know that
may happen with or without the wisdom teeth.
If wisdom teeth remain impacted in the jaw bone, you risk
developing a cyst in the bone surrounding the tooth. Cysts can destroy bone,
tooth roots, and even cause issues with nearby nerves. The larger the cyst
becomes, the more invasive the surgery will be to remove the problem area and
the greater the chances of other complications.
So when is the best age to get wisdom teeth removed? We
believe the earlier they are extracted, the better. At a younger age, the jaw
bone isn’t as dense and the roots of the wisdom teeth are not fully formed.
This decreases the odds of complications and makes the healing process a little
faster. In many cases, we recommend seeing an oral surgeon for the extractions
because of their expertise with wisdom teeth extractions and their familiarity
with conscious sedation. These factors help make the experience as comfortable
as possible.
Like anything else, extenuating circumstances exist where
there may be some different recommendations regarding how to treat the wisdom
teeth. If other teeth have been lost or the orthodontist has created room the
wisdom teeth, they may be retained. By consulting with the dentist, oral
surgeon, and even the orthodontist, we can help find the best treatment for you
or your children’s teeth.
For more information, please
visit us at www.brownandkupper.com.
Lee T. Brown, DDS
Brown and Kupper, DDS Inc
(513) 860-3660
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