Why Should You Have Your Wisdom Teeth Removed

Many teens and young adults often opt to get their wisdom teeth removed. For some, the third molars don’t give much trouble but for those that do encounter problems, extraction is often the best course of action. Why is that?

High risk of decay

It’s quite common for wisdom teeth to only partially erupt due to a lack of space. This means a good portion of the tooth remains beneath the gumlines. This combined with the third molars being hard to reach, means they decay and develop gum disease far more easily. These infections can also easily spread to adjacent teeth. Rather than risk a relapse of infection, the best option is usually extraction.

Damaged adjacent teeth

The erupted third molars usually place additional pressure on neighbouring teeth, which in turn can cause significant structural damage. In some cases, the adjacent tooth may also shrink due to the pressure placed on them.

Jaw cysts

When a tooth forms and is about to erupt, a natural “eruption” cyst develops. It’s possible for this cyst to become inflamed and infected, and further cause damage to neighboring teeth. When you schedule your consultation, a full mouth x-ray will be able to confirm if this is the case.

Worried about your wisdom teeth and unsure if you need them extracted? Schedule your appointment with Port Melbourne Dental. Our team will provide a thorough examination including a full mouth X-ray to find out if removal is necessary.