What Age Do Wisdom Teeth Need To Be Removed? A Rite of PassageEveryone is familiar with certain rites of passage. Getting your driver’s license, starting your first job, and graduating high school, are all things that we’ve come to associate with a certain age and blossoming into adulthood. However, there is one ritual that people may not look forward to as fondly, and that is the removal of one’s wisdom teeth. We all know that it’s wise to remove your wisdom teeth, but we may not know when we should. Well, the best time is early adulthood, between the ages of 17-25, or before they begin to be an issue. Our dentist can help determine the exact time that your wisdom teeth should come out, but this is a general guideline. With Youth Comes WisdomThere’s a tactical advantage to having your wisdom teeth removed at an earlier age. Studies have shown that younger patients experience fewer complications during the extraction procedure and have an easier time dealing with post operative recovery compared to older patients. In this case, wisdom doesn’t come with age! Why Wisdom Teeth?Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to come in, and they are the largest. Most people’s mouths simply can’t accommodate their size and so they have to be surgically removed. If wisdom teeth can’t erupt properly, they become impacted, and that is when they become an issue. Other problems associated with waiting to get them removed include infection, cysts or tumors, and tooth decay. That’s not to say that all wisdom teeth are bad, or that you necessarily have to get rid of them. You may only need one or two removed from your mouth. Or maybe even none at all. If you can fit them in, and take care of them easily, they’re yours to keep. But you’ll never know until you stop by our office. The Impact of Wisdom TeethWhat does it mean for teeth to become impacted? This means that your wisdom teeth can’t properly come in, or erupt, through the gumline. Your wisdom teeth may be blocked by bone or soft tissue, growing at an odd angle preventing them from coming in, or you simply may not have even space in your jawbone to accommodate the addition of extra teeth. Some people are scared of the idea of surgery, but we here at Dallas Oral Surgery are used to dealing with wisdom teeth, and will guide you every step of the way. For us it is a routine procedure, and we are dedicated to providing you with the same kind of superior care you’re already used to from us. So while there is no certain age to have your wisdom teeth removed, it’s usually during early adulthood. If you have or are a teenager, it’s never too early to start talking to us about them. Together we can form a plan, or at least an outlook, and begin preparing for your wisdom teeth to come in, so there’ll be no surprises when they do. If you’re in your mid-twenties, what are you waiting for? Come on down and speak to us at Dallas Oral Surgery today or call us at 214-363-9946. |
