Despite the name, our wisdom teeth don’t make us any smarter. In fact, wisdom teeth can often cause more harm than good, which is why so many people have them removed once they begin to emerge. To learn more about the reasons for wisdom teeth removal, keep reading!
Reasons for Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth are vestiges of an earlier time. They came in handy when we humans foraged for our food and ate a diet consisting of tough meats, hard nuts and seeds, fibrous roots and leaves, and other foods that were difficult to chew and grind. Since we don’t need our wisdom teeth anymore, they can be removed if necessary. Here are some of the reasons why wisdom teeth removal is necessary.
- Damage or crowding.
- Impacted Teeth.
- Partially Emerged.
Wisdom teeth tend to begin to grow around the time you hit early adulthood. There isn’t usually adequate space for them, so they’ll often shift the smile, affect the bite, and even cause damage to the existing natural teeth.
Sometimes the teeth do not emerge, but remain beneath the gums. This is often because they have become trapped, or impacted. Impacted teeth can result in the formation of a cyst or infection, so the dentist will recommend removing them before that becomes an issue.
Sometimes, the wisdom teeth will begin to grow in, and then stop partially emerged. When this happens, it creates an area that’s a haven for bacteria. Without wisdom teeth removal, the area will be especially susceptible to decay.
Wisdom Teeth Removal at Helotes Family Dentistry
Here at Helotes Family Dentistry, we monitor our patients’ wisdom teeth so that they can be removed before any of the above problems develop. If you or a family member is a candidate for extraction, you’re in good hands because we make the procedure as painless and worry-free as possible. To learn more, or to make an appointment, give our office a call, or schedule online.
Contact Us