Can You Keep Your Wisdom Teeth?
| Key Takeaways While there are many reasons to remove your wisdom teeth, it’s not always necessary. If you’re one of the lucky few, you may be able to keep your wisdom teeth—but only a dentist or oral surgeon can tell you whether it’s a good idea. |
These days, it seems like removing your wisdom teeth is a rite of passage. Like getting your driver’s license, attending prom, or going to college, wisdom teeth extraction has almost become an expected part of the teen and early 20s experience.
But do you have to get your wisdom teeth removed? Can you keep your wisdom teeth? In some cases, yes! Not everyone needs to have their wisdom teeth removed—but there are a lot of reasons to do it, especially while you’re young.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are third molars that grow in the very back of the mouth. They typically come in a set of four—two on top and two on bottom—though some people have fewer. Wisdom teeth got their name because they grow in later than most of our adult teeth, typically between the ages of 17 and 25 (when we are, supposedly, quite wise).
Once upon a time, wisdom teeth were essential to survival—these sturdy teeth helped to break down the raw plants, nuts, and meats central to our ancestors’ diets. As humans’ culinary practices and preferences evolved over time, we became accustomed to foods that had been softened by cooking and no longer needed three sets of molars for proper digestion.
Common Problems with Wisdom Teeth
Today, wisdom teeth serve very little purpose, but they can cause quite a few problems.
Without the broader jaws of our distant relatives, wisdom teeth are often constrained for space. This causes the teeth to grow at an angle or to crowd the surrounding teeth. The pressure caused by overcrowding can cause your smile to become misaligned or the teeth to weaken, causing damage throughout the mouth.
Wisdom teeth frequently erupt only partially or not at all, becoming lodged under the gums. In both cases, the risks of pericoronitis, an infection often caused by wisdom teeth, a broken tooth, or the development of a cyst are high. Even when wisdom teeth fully emerge, their position at the back of the mouth makes cleaning them a challenge, increasing the risk of gum disease and decay that threatens your oral and overall health.
With their long roots, wisdom teeth can even cause problems with your sinuses. The upper wisdom teeth can put pressure on the sinuses, leading to headaches, inflammation, and congestion.
While the list of potential concerns related to wisdom teeth is notable, not everyone experiences them the same way, or even at all. Genetics play a part in your experience with wisdom teeth, from determining your facial structure to whether they exist at all. Some people also simply get lucky, and enjoy a problem-free set of wisdom teeth for their whole lives.
Is it Safe to Keep Your Wisdom Teeth?
In some cases, it’s perfectly safe to keep your wisdom teeth. Whether or not it’s the best choice for you depends on a number of factors, including:
- The amount of space available in your jaw
- The presence or risk of injury, infection, or other complications
- Your age and overall health
Only your dentist or an oral surgeon can evaluate your individual case and make a recommendation based on the short- and long-term risks of keeping or removing your wisdom teeth. In general, though, wisdom teeth can be kept if they’re not causing problems and aren’t likely to cause problems in the future.
Signs You Can Keep Your Wisdom Teeth
If you’re lucky enough to have wisdom teeth that grow straight and fully through healthy gums, with plenty of space and no signs of decay, then you just might be able to keep them.
Potential Risks of Keeping Wisdom Teeth
The biggest risk of keeping your wisdom teeth intact is the potential for delayed—and increasingly complicated—issues. With limited space in the mouth for these relatively large teeth, the risk of complications over time is high.
Even well-formed and well-placed wisdom teeth are more difficult to clean and maintain, due to their placement in the back corners of your mouth. Plus, the longer you wait, the more difficult the extraction tends to be.
When Should Wisdom Teeth Be Removed?
Wisdom teeth can be removed at any time throughout your life, but it’s best to do it when you’re young. In your teen years or early adulthood, your wisdom teeth are still new. Your jaws and the roots of your wisdom teeth will harden over time. Extracting them while they’re new and soft makes removal easier, with faster recovery and a lower risk of complications.
Regardless of your age, wisdom teeth are often recommended for removal at the first sign of problems, including:
- Crowding of other teeth, which can lead to misalignment, damage, and decay
- Gum disease and decay in wisdom teeth, often related to poor oral hygiene
- Pain in the jaw or gums, indicating infection, pressure, or other issues
- Improper growth, such as growing in at an angle or becoming impacted in the jaw
- Inflammation or swelling in the gums, another indication of infection, pressure, or other issues
Most dentists or oral surgeons will monitor your wisdom teeth as they grow, allowing them to identify issues as they occur and predict whether you can expect problems in the future. If you’re young and generally healthy, many recommend removal regardless. Taking your wisdom teeth out early is a preventative measure to minimize any future risk.
Symptoms that Indicate Removal is Necessary
If you’re experiencing any of the following, it’s definitely time to discuss wisdom teeth extraction with your dentist or oral surgeon:
- Signs of infection, including swelling, bleeding, pain, and bad breath
- A cracked, chipped, or broken tooth
- Crowding and shifting in your other teeth
In some cases, these symptoms constitute a dental emergency; if you’re experiencing severe pain or discomfort, see your dentist or oral surgeon as soon as possible. At Bergen Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery in NJ, we are available seven days a week for emergencies. Call one of our NJ locations if you’re having a wisdom tooth emergency.
What Are the Benefits of Removing Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth removal is a relatively quick outpatient surgery. Most patients are back on their feet and resume normal activities within a couple of days. With that in mind, there are many benefits to removing your wisdom teeth:
- Prevention of future issues, including cysts, infection, damage to the jaw or other teeth, and more.
- Reduced need for future dental or orthodontic work caused by wisdom teeth crowding and damage, saving you time and money.
- Improved oral hygiene; by removing the difficult-to-clean wisdom teeth, you can lower the risk of bacteria and plaque buildup spreading from your wisdom teeth to the rest of your mouth.
- Reduced pain from impacted and cracked teeth, infections, and pressure on the other teeth, jaws, and sinuses.
What do the Experts Say? Should You Remove Your Wisdom Teeth?
A full wisdom teeth extraction is one of the best ways to ensure that you will not experience future problems with your wisdom teeth, but it’s not always necessary. With four convenient locations across Bergen County, Bergen Oral Surgery can help you determine whether your wisdom teeth should stay or go.
Our team boasts the only dual-degree oral surgery and medical doctors in Bergen County. That means that we’re not only knowledgeable in surgery, but in medicine—making us the best oral surgeons for wisdom teeth removal in NJ. Plus, we have more than 70 years of experience in providing excellent oral surgery services to the area.
From consultation to recovery, our NJ oral surgeons and support team strive to make your comfort and well-being a top priority. We’re here for you before, during, and after your wisdom teeth removal, with our doctors always on call to answer questions and respond to emergencies. Call us today to learn more.
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