This Article Has Been Medically Reviewed By Our Surgeons
Most people get their wisdom teeth while in their teens or early twenties. These are the final teeth to emerge, and they typically enter a smile that is already full. This can cause the wisdom teeth to become impacted, or trapped under the gums or other teeth. For this reason, most people are advised to have their wisdom teeth proactively removed. Choosing to forgo or put off wisdom teeth removal can lead to oral health complications down the road.
What Are the Complications of Wisdom Teeth?
It is common for wisdom teeth to become impacted, which means they remain trapped under bone and gum tissue rather than emerging as normal. Yet even when wisdom teeth do erupt, the crowding in the mouth means that they come in at odd angles, causing the surrounding teeth to shift out of alignment.
When wisdom teeth emerge at abnormal angles, it increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. And when they are impacted, the risks are even more numerous. Examples include:
- Damage to some of the surrounding teeth.
- Food debris gets trapped between the partially emerged wisdom tooth and the surrounding gum tissue, further increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
- Pain and inflammation in the gum tissue that surrounds the wisdom tooth.
- The development of oral cysts and infections deeper underneath the gum tissue. These, in turn, can increase your risk of oral cancer.
Furthermore, the longer you keep your wisdom teeth, the more challenging they can be to remove. Those who wait until later in life to undergo wisdom teeth removal often find the procedure more difficult and the recovery more time-consuming.
Wisdom Teeth Removal Helps You Protect the Integrity of Your Smile
Leaving your wisdom teeth in place may put you at risk for a number of long-term complications. By contrast, preemptive wisdom teeth removal is a smart way to invest in your long-term comfort and quality of life.
At MOSAIC, our surgeons have years of experience performing wisdom teeth removal. This safe, common procedure ultimately helps you preserve the integrity of your smile. Learn more about our approach to wisdom teeth removal and how it can benefit you.
