In our last article, we discussed the things you should consider doing for you and your family this summer as part of your own personal oral and dental wellness program.  One of the things on the list was considering having the wisdom teeth extracted for your children.

There are several reasons for this recommendation, including:

• Ages 16 thru 22 are the easiest time to remove wisdom teeth—before they have chance to fully develop.
• By removing the wisdom teeth while young, there is less surgical risk and healing is faster.
• 40% of adults that never had their wisdom teeth removed as a teen develop infection, decay or gum disease by 45.
• Removing the wisdom teeth helps avoid wisdom teeth disruption of natural alignment (causing teeth to shift).
• Wisdom teeth removal ends the risk of fluid cysts due to impacted teeth, and the risk of permanent damage or even tumors.
• The summer is a great time to schedule the procedure—on your schedule rather than being surprised.
• Removing the wisdom teeth helps avoid unexpected interruptions during school and exams.
• Your dental insurance helps pay the costs.

What are wisdom teeth, and why and when should you have them removed? Here is what you need to know.

What are wisdom teeth?

Also called third molars, wisdom teeth usually make their first appearance in young adults between the ages of 15 to 25. Because most mouths are too small for these four additional molars, an extraction procedure, sometimes immediately after they surface, is often necessary.

What are the problems of impacted or erupting wisdom teeth?



When wisdom teeth first break through the skin or erupt, they can cause crowding and pain.  Also, wisdom teeth can become impacted, or trapped, beneath the gums (see above).  Impacted teeth can accumulate bacteria and plaque – which can be painful and lead to infection.  They may also crowd or damage adjacent teeth or roots.

More serious problems may occur if the sac surrounding the impacted tooth becomes filled with fluid and enlarges to form a cyst. As the cyst grows it may hollow out the jaw and permanently damage adjacent teeth, the surrounding bone and nerves. Sometimes, if a cyst is not treated, a tumor may develop from its walls and a more serious surgical procedure may be required to remove it.

Below are several variations of common wisdom teeth problems.



And of course, wisdom teeth never follow your calendar to act up.  They can come in at any time and cause painful disruptions to your life and finances.

When should wisdom teeth be removed?

The following symptoms may indicate that the wisdom teeth have erupted and surfaced, and should be removed before they become impacted -- meaning, the teeth have surfaced and have no room in the mouth to grow. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

• pain
• infection in the mouth
• facial swelling
• redness or swelling of the gum line in the back of the mouth

Most oral health specialists will recommend an early removal of the wisdom teeth, as early removal will help to eliminate problems, such as an impacted tooth that destroys the second molar. According to the American Academy of General Dentistry, third molar impaction is the most prevalent medical developmental disorder.

What is involved in the extraction procedure?

Wisdom tooth extraction surgery involves removing the gum tissue that presides over the tooth, gently detaching the connective tissue between the tooth and the bone, removing the tooth, and suturing the opening in the gum line.

After having your wisdom teeth removed, the speed of your recovery depends on the degree of difficulty of the extraction.



So make sure to schedule a visit for your teenagers to visit the dentist this summer to see if they can benefit from having their wisdom teeth extracted!

Have any suggestions for what you'd like to see us write?  Place your comments and suggestions in the comments section.