Some dentists tend to advocate wisdom teeth removal near me as soon as they appear on an x-ray, however opinions on whether or not they should be extracted are shifting. When you pay for your healthcare, it's natural to question what's required and what isn't. So let's look at if specialists recommend not removing your wisdom teeth, so you can decide whether the treatment is required or not. 

Why Might You Get Wisdom Teeth Removed? 

Having wisdom teeth is not a sufficient cause to have them removed. Wisdom teeth should only be removed if they are impacted and cause pain. They are infected. They cause your teeth to be constricted, which leads to additional harmful effects such as significant plaque buildup.

Adults have 28 teeth, 32 if you count the four additional molars that emerge at the rear of your mouth in your late teens (wisdom teeth), which not everyone has. Impacted wisdom teeth occur when your wisdom teeth develop at an angle into the neighboring teeth or remain trapped in the jaw, unable to breach the gum. Impacted wisdom teeth can be quite painful when they develop and press your teeth together or into the nerves of the next-door molar, but they can also be harmless.

Even if your wisdom teeth develop in the proper position and penetrate the gum, very few individuals have enough room in their mouths for them, since they have become entirely superfluous as a result of our diet changes over the last few million years. Wisdom teeth push your 28 other teeth aside to create place. 

This can be unpleasant when your teeth shift positions and can cause your teeth to get crowded since there isn't enough space for them to stand side by side. When your teeth overlap strongly, it is more difficult to brush away germs and food particles from the little spaces between your teeth, which allow plaque to accumulate. Plaque adheres to your teeth, producing tooth decay and cavities, which can lead to infections and tooth fracture. 

Is It Ever Too Late to Extract Wisdom Teeth? 

Most people's wisdom teeth will begin to develop in their late teens or early twenties, however it has been reported that persons in their fifties and sixties will suddenly have wisdom teeth emerge, proving that wisdom teeth can grow at any age. Because wisdom tooth extraction is not always essential, it is never too late to get them removed, unless you are ignoring a problem with them.

Having an impacted wisdom tooth that is causing severe discomfort in your jaw and even your ear may not only lower your quality of life, but it may also harm your health. If your wisdom tooth is infected and causes discomfort, the infection might spread to your gums and jaw. 

Furthermore, untreated infections raise your risk of developing cardiovascular disease because your immune system is continually fighting the infection, putting strain on your heart and blood vessels. If your wisdom teeth are creating problems, you should visit your dentist to get them removed. However, wisdom tooth extraction is not always essential. 

Do Experts Say You Shouldn't Remove Your Wisdom Teeth?

Although surgeons may have previously removed your appendix, foreskin, or tonsils as a precaution or to avoid complications later in life with seemingly useless and problematic body parts, modern medical advice is to leave everything alone until it causes a problem. While the chance of complications from an appendectomy, circumcision, or tonsillectomy is minimal, every operation has some risk. 

To further limit the risk of problems, a dentist will seldom remove anything preventatively unless there is a medical reason. Similarly, wisdom teeth removal is unlikely to cause issues if you follow the aftercare instructions provided by your dentist; nonetheless, there are still risks.

The bottom line

If your wisdom teeth are healthy and are not causing you any problems, specialists advise against removing them. Even if your wisdom teeth are impacted, this does not indicate you will be in discomfort or require a wisdom tooth extraction. 

However, teeth continue to move, and your wisdom teeth will continue to develop until they emerge from your gum, so if they are impacted, they may cause you discomfort or issues later in life and may need to be pulled.