The extraction of wisdom teeth is a procedure that is often talked about in dentistry. Erupting late, either towards the end of the adolescence or a little later, wisdom teeth often lack the space to grow properly. As a result, they may often pose risks to oral health. This issue is what we will cover in this article to help you understand why the extraction of wisdom teeth are often recommended.
Why do we have wisdom teeth?
We inherit our wisdom teeth from our Homo Sapiens ancestors. Indeed, this third group of molars allowed them to chew their food well since their diet mainly consisted of meat and raw foods. Since the wisdom teeth erupt late, they also made it possible to replace the other molars which wore out very quickly and which sometimes fell out due to the ‘caveman’ diet.
Nowadays, our diet has changed a lot. The human evolved and the size of our jaws has decreased during this process. Thus, wisdom teeth of today lack space, in many cases, to emerge normally and to position themselves on the dental arch. Hence, it is not uncommon for them to emerge in the wrong axis or in the wrong place in the mouth. In addition, due to the lack of space, they may remain impacted, which means the crown of the tooth remains completely under the gum. They may also be partially impacted, which means the tooth has erupted partially.
Do we need to extract the wisdom teeth?
The answer to this question is NO! There are some lucky people who have enough space in their jaws for their 4 wisdom teeth to emerge normally and to not harm the other teeth. However, these people do not represent the majority...
It is important to have the wisdom teeth examined by a dentist who knows how to evaluate their position and to determine the level of risk associated if we leave them in the mouth. However, the extraction is recommended when it is determined that they may lead to complications, and here are the most frequent ones.
Wisdom teeth are difficult to clean
As they are placed at the very back of the dental arch, it is often much more difficult to properly clean wisdom teeth. Therefore, they present a significant risk of being affected by tooth decay and they are at risk of accumulating tartar, which is directly associated to gum disease.
If we notice that a patient has difficulty to maintain a good oral hygiene around his wisdom teeth, or is already suffering from problems, we will advise to have them extracted.
An increased risk of infections
Wisdom teeth, especially when they remain partially impacted, are at risk of gum infection. Indeed, in these cases, we often notice the presence of interstice, which are small spaces, between the gum tissue and the crown of the tooth. In addition, there may be the presence of an operculum, a part of the gum tissue that partially covers the tooth. Unsurprisingly, food residue and bacteria are likely to get stuck in these spaces. This may lead to the infection of the gum surrounding the tooth, a condition called pericoronitis.
Pericoronitis results in swelling of the face, sharp pain, difficulty opening the mouth and sometimes an accumulation of pus. This type of infection may require an emergency dental consultation so that the dentist may drain the pus and clean the affected area. Sometimes, antibiotics need to be prescribed to clear up the infection. Therefore, it is a risk that should not be overlooked since repeated infections may often lead to lesions or cysts.
Damage to nearby teeth
Wisdom teeth may emerge in the wrong axis of rotation. They then risk remaining impacted, meaning the part of the tooth that is normally visible (crown) remains under the gum. In this case, wisdom teeth may exert pressure on the roots of neighboring teeth and seriously damage them. Moreover, this pressure may cause a misalignment of the rest of the teeth.
Now that you understand the risks associated with wisdom teeth, you understand why their extraction is often recommended. For an evaluation of your wisdom teeth in LaSalle or for an extraction, contact the Dents Mon Quartier team. We are here to answer your questions on the subject.
Approved by Dre Charouk
Dr. Joumana Charouk, D.M.D, is proud to offer her patients exceptional care that combines experience, efficiency and good humor.
Dre Joumana Charouk, D.M.D