Do All Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?
When it comes to teeth, everyone wants to have the brightest, the whitest, and the straightest teeth. Over time, people have developed all sorts of different ways to achieve these goals. White strips are common, braces have become invisible, and stain removal has practically illuminated the teeth to lamp standards. However, through all of this, one thing has remained relatively unchanged - the removal of the wisdom teeth.
The removal of wisdom tooth has always been considered by many as a rite of passage in the patient's dental timeline. The belief being that should the wisdom teeth be left in, they will create chaos in the mouth of the patient, ranging from tooth decay to crooked smiles. While the basis for these beliefs are sound, they are not always 100% accurate - so when do wisdom teeth need to come out?
Wisdom teeth warrant removal from the mouth when they fit into certain problem causing categories. The most glaring being the cases when wisdom teeth are "impacted." Impacted wisdom teeth are a result of the mouth not having enough room to accommodate the new tooth. The tooth can remain completely within the jaw bone - fully impacted - or they can wiggle their way up and expose bits of themselves to earn the classification of partially impacted. Fully impacted wisdom teeth are more risky to remove because of the potential damage to the nerves within the jaw, and even the best orthodontist will want to discuss the pros and cons of removing them. Partially impacted wisdom teeth are mostly always in need of removal, and can be removed with less risk of nerve damage due to their emergence and distance from the aforementioned nerves.
The next big reason for wisdom teeth removal is more apparent when it comes to partially impacted wisdom teeth - the difficulty of care involved. Partially impacted wisdom teeth provide hiding places for bits of debris to latch on and decay the tooth without the ability for traditional brushes and other tools to remove them. This leads to an increased risk of cavities, gum disease, and infection. On top of this, since it is hard for the patient to reach the tooth to care for it, should anything happen to the tooth that needs attention, the tooth will be just as difficult to reach to solve the problem in the office as well.
With all of this in mind, it is important to consult an orthodontist about the removal of wisdom teeth. When it comes to wisdom teeth removal, Dr. Matt Beecroft is widely considered one of the best orthodontists for the task. Our team at Beecroft Orthodontics can answer all of the questions needed to make a decision on the best course of action for the removal of wisdom teeth. Be sure to call us today!
Beecroft Orthodontics, 11113 Leavells Rd Fredericksburg, VA 22407
Phone: 540-898-2200
The Mystery of the Wisdom Tooth