Benefits of Wisdom Tooth Extraction

If you’ve never had your wisdom teeth removed, you might not know that you may need them taken out in the future. In fact, there are far more cons than pros when it comes to keeping your wisdom teeth.

Our team at Anna M. Munne, DDS, PA, & ASSOCIATES in Houston, Texas, wants you to know all the benefits of getting your wisdom teeth extracted, so they don’t cause you problems later in life. 

Wisdom teeth explained

Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that grow in the back of your mouth during your late adolescent or early adulthood years. In some cases, all of your wisdom teeth come in and are healthy and beneficial. 

On the other hand, research has shown that up to 37% of people never get all their wisdom teeth. However, in most cases, they can cause problems and need to be removed. 

When wisdom tooth removal might be needed

Even if your wisdom teeth aren’t causing you pain, they may still need to be removed. There can be many benefits to having them taken out, and the procedure can also help prevent complications from arising later. 

Some of these common complications might include:

Cysts

If your wisdom teeth never emerge, cysts can form around them and cause severe pain. They can also cause damage to your jaw and surrounding teeth, leading to infection and gum disease.  

Cavities

If your wisdom teeth partially erupt, they can cause swelling in and around your gums, making it difficult to clean either the partly emerged wisdom teeth or the surrounding teeth.

Tooth misalignment

If your wisdom teeth come in fully, there’s a chance that they’ll crowd your other teeth and push them out of place. This may cause you to need treatment to straighten your teeth back out.

If you’re having problems with your wisdom teeth, you may even experience some extra pain or pressure in your sinuses. 

The longer your wisdom teeth stay in and grow, the higher the risk gets for developing any of these issues. 

Next steps

If you have one or more of these symptoms, or if you’ve noticed a foul taste in your mouth or had extra tenderness in your jaw, it’s probably time to have your wisdom teeth evaluated. If extraction is the right decision for you, it’s best not to delay having the procedure done since surgery can become more difficult later in life.

Even if your wisdom teeth aren’t causing you any problems, it’s still beneficial to come in and see us. We can check them for any signs of decay or infection.

Give us a call today at 713-795-4666 or request an appointment online to determine if you need your wisdom teeth extracted.