This is a great question that many people may have. Parents ask this question for their children, and teens may ask this question as many of their peers begin to have wisdom teeth removed. Wisdom teeth are the third molars in the very back of your mouth.
In decades past, removing wisdom teeth was a very common practice and seemingly something every high schooler went through. The general thought was that removing the wisdom teeth, which are mostly useless and ill-fitting in the mouth, would eliminate the chance that the teeth would cause infections or other trouble. Wisdom teeth often are misaligned and fully or partially impacted because they emerge late, around ages 16 to 25, after the jaw has stopped growing and all other adult teeth have emerged in the mouth.
Today, the general school of thought has slightly shifted among some dentists. Some healthy wisdom teeth may be perfectly fine to leave in, as long as patients that keep their wisdom teeth undergo regular exams and X-rays to catch signs of trouble, says the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. However, most dentists are in agreement that about 75% of the time, leaving wisdom teeth in the mouth will cause problems.
If wisdom teeth are going to be removed, it is best done when the roots are approximately 2/3rds formed. Removing the wisdom teeth at this time allows for an easier procedure and decreases the risk of damage to the nerves in that area.
Questions about wisdom teeth? Contact the professionals at DentaLux today!
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