Most people get rid of their wisdom teeth as soon as they erupt to prevent future oral complications. However, some people prefer to keep them, especially if they do not cause them pain or discomfort. Unfortunately, your wisdom teeth may begin to cause problems decades later. So, what do you do when this happens?
What to Do When Your Wisdom Teeth Become Problematic
Most dentists advise their patients to remove their wisdom teeth as soon as they erupt, even if they do not present problems. This is because it is not easy to tell if the teeth will cause problems afterward. The good thing is that there is no age limit to wisdom teeth removal. Therefore, you can still have your wisdom teeth removed when you old without any complications.
The only problem with extracting wisdom teeth when you are too old is that you may have other severe health conditions that could make the extraction and recovery process more complicated. Therefore, it is essential to talk to your dentist about your medical status before going for a wisdom extraction procedure. Full disclosure is necessary because it helps your doctor to come up with a personalized wisdom teeth extraction procedure and guidance that favors your medical condition.
Why You Should Remove Your Wisdom Teeth Earlier in Life
Studies have shown that people who have their wisdom teeth removed when they are 25 years or younger experience faster healing and are less likely to develop post-surgery complications. The process of extracting wisdom teeth at this age is also straightforward because the roots of the teeth haven’t been fully formed. Therefore, it is very easy to remove them because they are not firmly fixed in place. This also means that the recovery process is relatively shorter than when you are 50 years old.
Another benefit of removing your wisdom teeth when you are younger is minimizing the risk of damage to the neighboring nerves. Extracting a tooth whose roots are fully formed and firmly attached to the jaw can easily damage the adjacent nerves, causing more oral severe complications. In short, you should remove your wisdom teeth when you are young because the outcome is more favorable and anticipatable.
To prevent further complications during and after wisdom teeth extraction, especially when you are older, choose a skilled and experienced oral surgeon. Also, make sure you disclose to your oral surgeon any pre-existing medical conditions or any medications that you could be taking before the surgery.
