It's never easy to choose oral surgery, and you may be wondering, "Should I get wisdom tooth removed?" This is a problem that a lot of people face all through their adult life. These third molars are always the last to arrive to the party, and sometimes with a rude introduction.
That makes the things even more confusing, because you might feel a dull ache or nothing at all - until it's too late. To ensure you live a pain-free life, you must first understand your mouth and wisdom teeth, which we will give you a brief run through below.
Why Do People Get Wisdom Teeth Removed?
People usually get their wisdom teeth taken out because they don't have enough room for them. These extra teeth helped our ancestors break down the tough roots and foods they ate. Due to our softer modern diets, our jaws have become smaller over time - no maccas soft serve in the past.
About 75% of Australians today don't have enough space in their mouths for these last four teeth to come in properly. When they get stuck, they are said to be "impacted," and this can hurt, swell, or infect the healthy teeth around them. It's kind of like a puzzle where the pieces don't fit together anymore.
The Big Question: Do I have to take out my wisdom teeth?
"Do I have to have my wisdom teeth taken out?" you may be asking yourself while you're sitting there in no pain. In dentists, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" doesn't always mean what it says. People often say that wisdom teeth are "silent" troublemakers.
Some people have enough space in their mouth for wisdom teeth, and they’re able to keep them clean. Many people do not, and let them become big problems before getting it dealt with, resulting in the horror stories people hear from their families and friends.
They can secrete puss in the mouth, cause gum disease, and cause decay in the teeth around them. Worse it can happen without you noticing until the damage causes more serious infection and pain. A professional assessment at Providence Dental Care can reveal what’s happening beneath the surface, ensuring you aren't ignoring a ticking time bomb at the back of your mouth.
Understanding the Medical Necessity: When to take out wisdom teeth
Often it makes sense to get rid of wisdom teeth before they become a problem. When impacted teeth push against your second molars, they can break down or get cavities that are very hard to fix, and sometimes result in losing the second molars too. In addition, these teeth are very hard to clean because they are so far back.
Bacteria thrive around wisdom teeth if they aren’t kept clean, or if part of the gum still covers them called an operculum. Studies show that about 30% of people who keep their wisdom teeth eventually get pericoronitis, an infection of the gum tissue that is very painful and often needs emergency surgery and a round of strong antibiotics, before it can become life threatening.
The Hidden Perks: Benefits of Keeping Wisdom Teeth
Surgery doesn't always work the same way for everyone. If your wisdom teeth are healthy, fully developed, and in the right place, there are real benefits to keeping them. They give you more chewing power and help keep the bone mass of your back jaw strong when they line up with your other teeth.
If they are easy to clean and floss, they can be used as a "spare tire" in case you lose a tooth earlier in the arch. The best thing to do is to keep your natural teeth as long as they aren't hurting your health.
The Ticking Clock: Should I Get Wisdom Tooth Removed Sooner?
If your dentist tells you that you need an extraction, you may wonder, "Should I get my wisdom teeth taken out now or later?" According to research, people under the age of 25 heal a lot faster. The roots haven't fully formed yet, and the jawbone isn't as dense at this age, so the process of removing them is much easier, and they heal much faster.
If you wait until your 30s or 40s, you are more likely to have problems, like nerve damage or a longer healing time. Getting things done early can save you from having to have more complicated surgeries in the future.
Managing the Fear of the Unknown
Dental fear is real, and it's a big problem when you want to know "should I get my wisdom teeth taken out?" Many people are scared of getting "chipmunk cheeks" or being put to sleep. Today's methods have come a long way, with a focus on "gentle" extractions and good pain control.
Most of the time, the patients say that the thought of the event is worse than the event itself. Get back to enjoying your day pain-free with fast, reliable dental solutions at Providence Dental Care.
What Happens if I Just Wait and See?
A lot of people still wonder, "Do I have to get my wisdom teeth taken out?" and hope they'll behave. If the teeth aren't hurting right now, the "watchful waiting" method can work. But this needs to be checked out and X-rayed regularly. You need to be honest with yourself about how clean you are.
Those teeth are extremely likely to get cavities if you can't get to the back of your mouth to clean them. The main reason people get their wisdom teeth taken out later in life is usually a sudden, painful infection that’s been slowly brewing for years, and it usually strikes at the worst time. Spoiling a getaway, holiday or wedding.
Breaking Down the Costs and Long-Term Value
"Should I get my wisdom teeth taken out?" is often asked with financial worries in mind. Even though the cost of surgery may seem high at first, it is much less compared to the cost of fixing a broken down neighbouring tooth or a jaw cyst in the future. Spending money on it is prevention for the health of the rest of your teeth. A dollar in prevention is worth four in a cure as the saying goes.
We don’t perform any unnecessary treatment, but if you have wisdom teeth that need to come out, and are putting it off, make sure that the "cost" of taking them out doesn't outweigh the benefits of keeping them.
Trusting Your Gut and Your Dentist
When you ask, "Should I get my wisdom teeth taken out?" the answer should be based on a combination of professional opinion, radiographic (X-Ray) imaging, and how comfortable you feel with the idea. There are different kinds of faces.
The way forward is clear if your teeth are causing bad bites, pain, or frequent infections. Maybe you're one of the lucky ones, and they are just sitting there and not making any trouble. It’s always best to get a professional opinion for confirmation, to help guide your way forward into making the best and most informed choice for your health.
At our Providence Dental Care we believe in transparency, and so we share that wisdom tooth extraction varies in cost from $250 up to $500 per tooth at our West Lakes Practice. Usually, we can remove them in the chair, rather than having to go under general anaesthetic. But we also provide sedation and more advanced options for those patients that need it.
Conclusion
Making the choice to go ahead with an extraction is a big step in your health journey. If you've been thinking, "Should I get my wisdom teeth taken out?" understand that knowledge is power. Your goal is to have a healthy mouth that works well, and we can help you make that decision by educating and informing you with the knowledge of whether your wisdom teeth do (or don’t!) need to come out.
Do not let a toothache force you to make a choice. By taking charge of your tooth health now, you can keep smiling, eating, and laughing without having to deal with the "headache" of painful wisdom teeth.
Are you concerned with your Wisdom Teeth? We’re here to provide the expert knowledge and care you deserve at Providence Dental Care.
Book a consultation for a chat or an examination for a closer look, and we will give you answers to your questions, and help with whatever your dental needs may be!
