Wisdom teeth are the teeth located at the back of your mouth. Two teeth develop on top and two on the bottom, completing a set of 32 adult teeth. There is a popular misconception that wisdom teeth make you wiser. 

On the contrary, wisdom teeth receive their name from the fact that they grow when one is older, between the ages of 17 and 21. But not everyone has wisdom teeth. Some researchers believe this is because jaws have changed owing to dietary changes over the years. 

Most people have their wisdom teeth removed between the ages of 18 and 25, mainly because they do not have enough room to grow. Nonetheless, you do not need to remove them as long as they are healthy and completely grown. Also, they can stay if they are positioned correctly, do not interfere with biting of the adjacent teeth, and are cleanable.

Why Are Wisdom Teeth Extracted?

You are likely to have more issues with your wisdom teeth than you will experience with any of your other teeth. For instance, you may experience infection, cavities, sinus issues, lesions, inflamed gums, damage to adjacent teeth, bone loss around your roots, or insufficient space to brush or floss your teeth. 

When Is It Necessary to Remove Your Wisdom Teeth?

Your dentist may need to remove them if you experience the following changes in the area around your wisdom teeth:

• Pain.
• Tumors.
• Gum disease.
• Extensive tooth decay.
• Damage to adjacent teeth.
• Fluid-filled cysts.
• An infection that has recurred in the soft tissue behind the lower last tooth.

In addition, some dentists may recommend you remove wisdom teeth as part of a treatment for braces or other forms of dental care.

What May Happen If You Do Not Have Your Wisdom Teeth Extracted?

• Damage to Other Teeth

Most people have small jaws and mouths. As a result, wisdom teeth grow at an angle. This will make them crowd adjacent teeth and damage them with time. 

• Gum Disease or Oral Infection

At times, wisdom teeth only grow partially through the gums. When they do, it becomes hard to floss or even brush around this area. This creates a breeding ground for bacteria to cause gum disease or an oral infection.

• Impacted Wisdom Teeth

In some cases, the wisdom teeth may be trapped below the gumline. For the patient, this can be excruciatingly painful. Impacted wisdom teeth can also lead to abscesses and infections. This can lead to decay, as well as affect the healthy teeth around the growing wisdom teeth.

• Jaw Damage

If wisdom teeth are not well monitored, they may shift parallel to the jawline. At times, they may even shift backward. This eventually interferes with the opening and closing of the jaw.

• Alignment

Wisdom teeth have no space to grow. They may grow horizontally or even become impacted. This causes the crowding of other teeth. This may eventually force you to get treatment to straighten those teeth.

• Cysts

If you have a tooth that is not fully developed, the bag of tissue surrounding it may develop into a cyst, which can eventually lead to bone loss in your jaw.

For more on wisdom teeth removal, visit Eagle Gate Dental at our office in Salt Lake City, Utah. You can call 801-781-5300 to book an appointment.