What Happens if You Don’t Remove Your Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth removal is a common procedure that is often seen among young adults and teenagers. Not everyone needs their wisdom teeth removed, but it is important to know if and when it’s required for yours. This is something that can be discussed in an appointment with your dentist after he or she performs an x-ray. There are complications that can come from not having yours removed, however.
Continue reading below to learn more about why you should have your wisdom teeth removed and what may happen if you don’t.
Can You Keep Your Wisdom Teeth?
If you do not have a risk of wisdom teeth complications, as ensured by your dentist, you probably do not need to have your wisdom teeth removed. If your teeth are healthy and positioned in the right placement for cleaning and your mouth, they will not need to be removed. It is important to discuss this with your dentist at your next appointment rather than deciding for yourself, however.
Wisdom Teeth Complications
There are many instances in which your dentist may encourage you to have your wisdom teeth removed for the health of your mouth. If you have a smaller mouth, for instance, there is a higher risk of your wisdom teeth not coming in correctly. If you have impacted wisdom teeth that have not emerged, they become trapped in your jaw. It is important to remove these wisdom teeth to prevent further complications like the ones that are listed below.
Overcrowding
Overcrowding is one of the most common complications that come from not having your wisdom teeth removed. If you have a smaller mouth or jaw, this problem is especially common as there is not enough room in your mouth for the incoming wisdom teeth. Overcrowding can lead to damage to the rest of your teeth, such as causing crookedness or misalignment of bites. Your wisdom teeth could also become impacted and stuck in your jawline rather than coming through.
Crooked Growth
If wisdom teeth do come through the gum line, and they do not grow correctly, there is ample chance of them growing in crookedly. In extreme cases, the crookedness may be illustrated by the wisdom teeth coming in completely sideways. Nearby teeth will also be pushed, causing crookedness in other teeth as well. In these instances, your bite will be pushed forward. This will cause further treatment needs in the long run, rather than just having your wisdom teeth removed in the first place.
Pain or Discomfort
As mentioned previously, wisdom teeth growing in crookedly can cause further damage to the rest of your teeth and your bite. This can cause significant pain and discomfort as your teeth shift in your gum line. If your wisdom teeth become impacted and stuck in the jaw, significant pain can be held and felt. This pain can almost be excruciating for many people experiencing it.
Risk of Infection or Abscess
Impacted wisdom teeth can lead to infections in your mouth on the jaw or abscesses. The gum behind the back molars can be impacted with painful infection. Even if your wisdom teeth appear healthy, they can still grow in wrong. This can cause an inability to care for these back teeth properly, making bacteria more likely to grow. The growth of bacteria can lead to further infections and abscesses in the back of your mouth.
Increased Risk of Tooth Decay
As mentioned previously, being unable to reach your wisdom teeth properly in caring for them can lead to increased risks for tooth decay. Tooth decay leads to abscesses due to broken teeth or damaged teeth. If your wisdom teeth overcrowd the rest of your mouth, it can be difficult to reach all parts of other teeth such as your molars. This can lead to further tooth decay, requiring further teeth removals that need to be done and further chances for infection and abscess.
Final Thoughts
Getting your wisdom teeth removed is something that you should discuss with your dentist to get his or her advice on. Do not assume your wisdom teeth are healthy just because you can see them. Take your dentist’s advice to avoid further complications such as infections, decay, pain, and overcrowding. It is well worth it to have your wisdom teeth removed if it is determined to be necessary.