What Happens If I Don’t Remove My Wisdom Teeth?
Between the ages of 17 to 25, most people develop a final set of molars known as wisdom teeth. They form in the very back of your mouth, either on the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both. Oftentimes, a person will not have enough space in their jaw for the wisdom teeth to fit properly with the rest of their teeth. When this happens, they need to be removed. Some may be tempted to put this procedure off for a long time, as the idea of taking time off for surgery is unappealing, but it is best to have it done as soon as you can.
Complications from Wisdom Teeth
Delaying wisdom tooth removal is not recommended because painful complications can arise:
They can become impacted. An impacted tooth means it is growing in sideways or at an angle, rather than fully upright. Impacted teeth are often unable to erupt through the gums, so they stay buried or begin to grow into your jawbone and cause jaw and mouth pain. If they do erupt, they are difficult to brush and floss and are at a higher risk of decay and gum disease. They can throw off the alignment of the rest of your teeth and your bite as they try to grow in.
They can become infected. If your wisdom teeth are unable to fully erupt, a painful infection called pericoronitis can develop in the area.
They can develop cysts. Wisdom teeth that do not erupt from the gums at all can form a cyst, which is an inflamed pocket of fluid. The cyst can be very painful and can damage bone and gum tissue.
Are you hesitant about having your wisdom teeth removed? Come to Ridge View Dental – we can answer all your questions and ease your worries.