Wisdom teeth, do they really need to come out? Why do we have them? Wisdom teeth fill some people with dread — just the thought of getting them out gives some the anxiety. But if they aren’t causing any issues, is it necessary to have them removed?
Dr. V. Lynn Morgan in Severna Park, MD can answer those questions for you. She is a provider of quality dental care and can evaluate you and your wisdom teeth and determine if removing them is the right treatment for you.
Why Are They Called Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth. Do they really make us wise? An old wives tale says they are called wisdom teeth because they usually arrive around the time when “kids” start thinking about moving out because they think they know it all, somewhere around 17-25.
The technical term for wisdom teeth is third molars since they come right behind the second set of molars. The first set of molars arrives in childhood and then in adolescence the second set erupts. You might remember them coming in, there was discomfort as they started to crowd your mouth. By the time the third set arrived, there was even less room for them and now your mouth is pretty crowded.
Should My Wisdom Teeth be Removed?
Not everyone needs to have their wisdom teeth out but here are some of the things that the dentist will look for:
- To reduce the risk of future complications: Some patients are at risk of future problems so the dentist may recommend removal of the wisdom teeth.. While you can have the procedure done at any age, it is usually done on younger patients before problems develop and avoiding complications.
- Impaction: If there is no room for the tooth to erupt, it is considered impacted; blocked. For some patients, there is pain and discomfort as the teeth try to erupt while some patients experience no symptoms at all. They find out there is a problem when it shows up on an X-ray.
- Pericoronitis: This is a situation that develops sometimes as the wisdom tooth erupts through the gum but a flap of tissue remains that causes food to become trapped and bacteria to form. This can make it difficult to brush and floss. This can happen even if the wisdom teeth have not erupted.
Wisdom Teeth Treatment
Many patients never need their wisdom teeth out and there are even others where the teeth never come through at all. And sometimes the wisdom teeth come in but can be managed without the need to remove them. Dr. Morgan in Severna Park, MD will assess your particular situation and recommend the best course of treatment. If you want to get additional information about wisdom teeth removal, you can schedule an appointment online or call the office at (410) 415-9015.