Avoid All These Issues By Having Your Wisdom Teeth Pulled

When is the best time to have your wisdom teeth pulled? If you ask that question of a dentist near you, most will say before those wisdom teeth cause you any problems, rather than after. We’ll explain.

What are wisdom teeth? 

Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that appear in each corner of most people’s — but not everyone’s —mouth in their late teens or early twenties. On a purely functional level, though, they’re just not necessary considering how human dietary needs and habits have evolved over millennia. Those first two sets of molars don’t get worn away to the point that they require replacing. Wisdom teeth are usually far more trouble than they’re worth. 

Why do the dentists at Dentus Family Dental recommend preventative wisdom teeth removal? We’ll review four main reasons that dentists recommend wisdom teeth extraction in St. Albert. If you’re beginning to experience signs of the emergence of your wisdom teeth — complicated or not — or are persuaded that you’d rather avoid those risks altogether, contact a dentist near you for advice about what to do next. 

Your jaw will be less crowded 

The average jaw size of the human jaw has decreased over time. On average, we just don’t have enough room in our jaws to hold a third set of molars, and the first two are not — thanks to changing diets and improved dental care — usually going anywhere by your twenties. Because of that, emerging wisdom teeth place unnatural pressure on other teeth in our jaw. That pressure forces those other teeth out of position, changing the shape of your bite. 

If you wait too long to deal with your wisdom teeth, you’ll need to have them extracted and deal with the damage caused to other teeth — maybe even braces or other extractions. 

Less risk of damage to your other teeth

The close quarters in your mouth upon the arrival of wisdom teeth means they often emerge in hard-to-reach places pressed right up against other teeth and molars. That makes it hard to keep your wisdom teeth and those nearby teeth clean. With that comes the buildup of plaque, tartar, and tooth decay that will affect your wisdom teeth and your other molars. 

Undergoing preventative wisdom teeth extraction near you will prevent the emergence of tooth decay and eliminate the risk of harmful pressure on the roots of nearby teeth.  

Reduced risk of oral diseases

Tooth decay is not the only increased risk associated with wisdom teeth. The risks of gum inflammation, gum disease, and infections that can affect your nerves also increase. Wisdom tooth extraction in St. Albert is recommended to improve your oral health generally. 

Wisdom tooth extraction will reduce your pain

All these common side effects of wisdom teeth eruptions have at least one common denominator — pain. Since wisdom teeth are no longer useful or important to our diets and daily dental function, there just isn’t any reason to put up with the pain, tooth sensitivity, and even sensitive gums that often accompany the emergence of wisdom teeth. The opportunity to reduce pain and discomfort strongly favours and early extraction. 

When should you have your wisdom teeth extracted?

A dentist in St. Albert usually recommends wisdom tooth extraction between 12 and 25 years of age, depending on the patient’s personal circumstances. Generally, younger patients recover more easily and quickly from the extraction procedure. The very best time to have your wisdom teeth extracted? Before they cause any problems that will require further procedures to fix. 

Early wisdom tooth extractions in St. Albert are a common strategy to protect patients from future complications. Are you thinking ahead with prevention in mind? Or looking for a solution to your existing symptoms? Either way, contact a dentist in St. Albert with your questions or concerns about wisdom tooth extraction.