Wisdom Teeth and Why They Need to Be Removed

Wisdom teeth begin to emerge in the late teens or early twenties. Wisdom teeth are also called the third molars and are the last set of teeth to grow in. If wisdom teeth grow in properly and correctly aligned, they don’t usually cause a problem. However, more often than not, wisdom teeth cause crowding, grow improperly, and will have to be extracted.

Reasons for Wisdom Tooth Removal

Below are two of these most common reasons why you may need to have your wisdom teeth removed:

• Partially impacted wisdom teeth – If a wisdom tooth is partially impacted, this means that the tooth is partially covered by the gum tissue. Because the wisdom teeth are located so far back in the mouth, they are more vulnerable to cavities, decay, and gum disease. Partial impaction cause for removal.
• Fully impacted wisdom teeth – When a wisdom tooth is impacted, this means that the tooth is completely covered by gum tissue, preventing the tooth from erupting properly. This is common when the mouth is too small for the teeth to erupt. Because of the possibility that food or bacteria can become lodged under the gum tissue and cause infection, the wisdom teeth will need to be removed.

Some other reasons why wisdom teeth need to be extracted can include:

• Chronic infections
• Pain around the wisdom teeth
• Gum disease
• Cysts or tumors
• Severe tooth decay

It’s also common for wisdom teeth to be removed prior to orthodontic treatment. This is because the wisdom teeth can cause the teeth to shift back into their original positions once the braces come off.