Do I need wisdom teeth removal?

Wisdom teeth. We often hear about them and how they can become problematic for most patients. At Ten Mile Smiles of Meridian, Idaho, our dentists believe that wisdom teeth should remain unless a situation requires their removal. These teeth, known as the third molars, develop sometime in the late teens or early adult years and tend to become stuck or impacted. Because of their position so far in the back of the mouth, where they can be challenging to brush and floss correctly, they may also leave the smile at risk of periodontal disease and tooth decay.

Should I have my wisdom teeth removed?

There are several factors our team may take into consideration before recommending the removal of the third molars. Patients with the following concerns may want to ask our team about extractions:

• To protect results from orthodontic treatment. Many children and teenagers undergo orthodontic work at some point to address malocclusion and misalignment of the dental arch. Once the results have been achieved, the eruption of wisdom teeth can cause misalignment to reoccur. Proactively removing wisdom teeth is a smart way to avoid future complications.
• Tooth decay and infection. Disease and decay are common with wisdom teeth because they can be challenging to keep clean, with them being so far in the back of the mouth. If there are indications of problems with wisdom teeth that have surfaced through the gum line, our team may recommend their extraction.
• Impaction. Sometimes, wisdom teeth get stuck or impacted behind the molars and cannot come out on their own. In these cases, our team may need to perform surgery to extract the affected teeth and resolve the issue.
• Cysts and infection. Cysts may form around impacted wisdom teeth, causing infection and pain for patients. Emergency wisdom tooth removal is often done to alleviate the issue.

Find out if wisdom tooth extractions are right for you!

Patients of the Meridian, Idaho area who are concerned about their third molars and believe they may benefit from removal are encouraged to call Ten Mile Smiles to find out more. Our dentists and their team can be reached by calling 208-715-5000 and requesting time to speak at the office, conveniently located at 3118 West Milano Drive, Suite #110, and open to new patients.