Why Do I Need to Have My Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Wisdom teeth usually appear in the late teens or early 20s. If they are healthy, fully erupted, properly aligned, and easy to clean, they may not need to be removed. Our Northridge dentist may recommend extraction if the teeth are impacted, improperly aligned, unhealthy, or difficult to clean.

 

Because they erupt at the back of the mouth, they can easily crowd other teeth. They are a holdover from our primitive days, when our ancestors ate tough diets, which could lead to premature tooth wear and loss. The remaining teeth would shift to accommodate the wisdom teeth. Because most of us still have all of our teeth in early adulthood, the wisdom teeth often have difficulty erupting. This can lead to infection, decay, and damage to other teeth. You may be a candidate for wisdom teeth extraction if you have cysts, pain, repeated infections in the teeth, tooth decay in the teeth, or the other teeth are affected or will be affected.

 

Early removal is generally recommended. If the wisdom teeth are left until they cause problems, they can be more difficult to extract, and the other teeth may be adversely affected. Our expert in wisdom teeth extraction in Northridge can help you decide if an extraction is right for you. Give us a call today to schedule your appointment.