14
Jun
Do I need to get my wisdom teeth removed?
The short answer? No, not always.
There are only two reasons wisdom teeth need to be removed.
First, if the wisdom teeth themselves cause pain or discomfort. Sometimes, a wisdom tooth can cause pain and swelling as it gets stuck on the jaw bone. This can form an abscess or an infection.
The second reason for removal is if the wisdom teeth are at risk of damaging the adjacent teeth. When a wisdom tooth is impacted against another tooth, you may not have pain, but this wisdom tooth can start causing damage to the adjacent tooth as it grows towards the adjacent tooth. Once there is pain, it is often too late to save the damaged tooth, and removal of both the wisdom tooth and the adjacent tooth is needed.
The Clarity Summary
It is not always necessary for wisdom teeth to be removed – only if they cause pain; or are at risk of causing damage to adjacent teeth.
The procedure to remove these wisdom teeth varies depending on whether the wisdom tooth is erupted or if it stuck under the bone. Speak to your dentist to find out if you need to have your wisdom teeth removed. Rest assured that modern advances have made the procedure much less uncomfortable than it used to be.