If you are between the ages of 17 and 25, you might be weighing the pros and cons of having your wisdom teeth removed. If your dentist recommends that you have this procedure, doing so could actually be greatly beneficial to your health. Here are a few of the benefits to having your wisdom teeth extracted.
1. It can help reduce the risk of overcrowding.
Did you know that wisdom teeth grow in at an angle about 44 percent of the time? They don’t always fit perfectly where they’re supposed to and, unfortunately, this can cause a number of oral health issues. If your teeth grow in incorrectly, they can overcrowd your surrounding teeth. Overcrowding increases your risk of tooth decay as misaligned teeth are more likely to trap debris, plaque, and food particles between your molars. Therefore, by removing your wisdom teeth preemptively, it could spare you the need for braces and a number of restorative dental procedures down the road.
2. You could avoid painful impacted teeth.
If your wisdom teeth only partially break through the gums, or if they do not break through at all, this is known as “impacted teeth.” This can be a very painful condition. It can cause pain and stiffness in the jaw as well as tooth decay and even gum disease. Therefore, by having your wisdom teeth removed preemptively, you can avoid this oral health issue entirely.
3. Your daily dental hygiene routine is made easier.
Wisdom teeth grow in to the very back of your mouth behind your molars. This makes them very difficult to reach with a toothbrush and dental floss. If not taken care of correctly, you could risk accumulating a build-up of bacteria, acids, and food debris around your wisdom teeth. This could lead to dental decay, gum disease, and even halitosis (bad breath). However, by having your wisdom teeth removed, you can avoid needing to perform this extra dental care entirely. All in all, removal of your wisdom teeth will make it easier to maintain your dental hygiene.
4. Wisdom teeth extraction could save you money long term.
You may be surprised to learn that paying for the upfront cost of wisdom teeth extraction will likely save you a lot of money in the long run. Allowing your wisdom teeth to grow in fully can be quite risky. Not only are you at risk for overcrowding or impaction, but you could also risk having nerve damage, cysts, infection, gum disease, and tooth decay—all of which could require subsequent dental procedures. Also, if you choose to allow the wisdom teeth to grow in, your dentist will need to take regular x-rays to monitor them as they grow in for weeks or even months. If issues with your wisdom teeth are detected using these x-rays, you may need to have the procedure anyway! Therefore, a preemptive procedure could save you a lot of valuable time and money.
To delve deeper into the details of this procedure or to lock in your next appointment, give Meadows Dental Care in Palatine a call. Our skilled team, featuring your trusted Palatine dentist and an experienced oral surgeon in Palatine, IL, is eager to assist you. Don’t hesitate – reach out today and embark on the path to a healthier, happier smile!