Wisdom Teeth and Why They Need to Be Removed

The wisdom teeth will begin to emerge in the late teens or early twenties. Wisdom teeth are also called the third molars and are the last set of teeth to grow in. If wisdom teeth grow in properly and correctly aligned, they don’t usually cause a problem. However, more often than not, wisdom teeth cause crowding, grow improperly, and will have to be extracted.

Reasons for Wisdom Tooth Removal

While there’s nothing that says that each and every person needs to have their wisdom teeth removed, there are a few situations that will require these teeth to be extracted. Below are two of these most common situations:

• Fully impacted wisdom teeth – When a wisdom tooth is impacted, this means that the tooth is covered by gum tissue, preventing the tooth from erupting properly. This is common when the mouth is too small for the teeth to erupt. Because of the possibility that food or bacteria can become lodged under the gum tissue and cause infection, the wisdom teeth will need to be removed.
• Partially impacted wisdom teeth – If a wisdom tooth is partially impacted, this means that the tooth is partially covered by the gum tissue. Because the wisdom teeth are located so far back in the mouth, they are more vulnerable to cavities, decay, and gum disease. Partial impaction will be cause for removal.

Some other reasons why wisdom teeth need to be extracted can include:

• Pain around the wisdom teeth
• Gum disease
• Severe tooth decay
• Chronic infections
• Cysts or tumors

It’s also common for wisdom teeth to be removed prior to orthodontic treatment. This is because the wisdom teeth can cause the teeth to shift back into their original positions once the braces come off.

For more information about having wisdom teeth removed prior to orthodontic treatment or to make an appointment for an orthodontic consultation, please contact Lockett Orthodontics today. We are located here in Colorado Springs, Colorado.