Throughout childhood, we experience the somewhat uncomfortable sensation of losing baby teeth and growing new ones. After all is said and done, we become adults with a full set of mature teeth. If there are any late bloomers, they are bound to be the wisdom teeth, which usually erupt at a much later age. While some people never see their wisdom teeth poking through their gums, others feel them painfully sprouting upward, which can cause a serious case of impacted teeth. What is the best age for wisdom teeth removal?
Best Age for Wisdom Teeth Removal
This leaves a lot of folks who visit their oral surgeon in Tarzana to wonder what the best age for wisdom teeth removal is. In order to avoid all of the symptoms and complications that come from impacted teeth, dentists will usually recommend that you get your wisdom teeth taken out when you’re young. Let’s find out what age is usually recommended for this kind of procedure.
What Age Do Wisdom Teeth Grow In?
The reason the very back molars are called “wisdom teeth” is that they erupt a lot later in life than all of the other teeth in the mouth. People can experience their wisdom teeth erupting anywhere between ages 17 and 25. This is usually when the dentist recommends that they get removed. When the wisdom teeth start to come in, it can be almost immediately apparent if they will be impacted. If you experience soreness or swelling in the area, it is a sure sign.
Problems with Impacted Teeth
Impacted wisdom teeth are very dangerous to your health. Thankfully, impacted wisdom teeth can be spotted before the damage gets too severe. The American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons reports that 90% of people deal with impacted wisdom teeth when they are young.
Over time, impacted teeth can cause worse and worse pain. Not to mention, it makes your mouth much more susceptible to infection, which only exacerbates symptoms of discomfort and feverishness. People with impacted wisdom teeth are also at a higher risk for gum disease and bacterial decay.
Symptoms of Impaction
Impacted wisdom teeth are usually noticeable right away, but some people don’t actually feel very many symptoms. For others, the symptoms might take a long time to appear. Eventually, those with impacted wisdom teeth may experience the following:
- Constant bad breath (halitosis)
- Swelling in the face and jaws
- Pain and sensitivity in the teeth and gums
- Bleeding or red gums
- Trouble opening your mouth
- Fever or chills
If you start to run a temperature or experience fever, you need to get yourself to the emergency room. It is likely that your impacted teeth have caused an infection, and it needs to get taken care of right away. If you believe that you may be dealing with these symptoms, get in touch with your dentist ASAP.
Is Wisdom Tooth Removal Always Needed?
Some lucky people grow up with their third molars perfectly intact. Most people have issues with overcrowding once those molars start to grow in, causing gradual issues with pain and swelling. If you show no signs of impacted wisdom teeth, your dentist is not likely to recommend wisdom tooth removal. They are believed to be useless teeth in the modern human skull (this is also called vestigial), so removing them won’t harm you, but you don’t need to have teeth taken out if they don’t put you at risk for additional oral health maladies.
Get Treatment for Impacted Teeth Today!
When your wisdom teeth start to grow in, you can usually feel it. You may be lucky enough not to have to deal with the detrimental effects of impacted teeth; either way, you should make sure that you are prioritizing your oral health and well-being however you can.
Get in touch with our dental experts to learn more about wisdom teeth removal in Tarzana and find out if this is the right procedure – and the right time – for you.