Common Signs You Need Your Wisdom Teeth Removed

Patients often ask, “Why do we have wisdom teeth?” The answer dates back to our early ancestors, who survived on a diet of raw meat, vegetables, berries, nuts, and roots. They didn’t have the luxury of cooking and preparing their food, so they relied on a broader jaw and strong molars. Having three sets of molars was vital for our ancestor’s survival. However, today, wisdom teeth aren’t always functional and can crowd the mouth causing painful problems.

Our third set of molars typically grow in our wisdom years, which is known to be between the ages of 17 and 21. However, not everyone is born with all of their wisdom teeth or any at all. If your wisdom teeth decide to come through, your jaws have already shrunk and left little to no room for the extra row of teeth. For some, this causes discomfort for other excoriating pain. Besides the obvious aches and agony, what are some of the common signs of needing your wisdom teeth removed?

Causes for Wisdom Teeth Removal

Not every patient experiences pain associated with their wisdom teeth. Sometimes our dentists recommend pulling them based on your x-rays if the wisdom teeth will cause overcrowding or put excess pressure on the other teeth as they move. Here’s a brief overview of what we look for when considering wisdom teeth removal.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

In many cases, wisdom teeth are impacted and don’t have enough space to emerge from the gums and develop normally. Impacted wisdom teeth may not show symptoms at all. However, many patients experience:

• Jaw pain
• Swollen, Tender or Bleeding Gums
• Difficulty opening your mouth
• Swelling or Stiffness in the Jaw
• Bad Breath

Improper Growth, Overcrowding

Before wisdom teeth grow in, there are normally 28 teeth in the mouth. After the wisdom teeth grow in, there are 32 teeth.

In some cases, when wisdom teeth grow, they take up too much space in the mouth. When the mouth is overcrowded, there’s no procedure that can be done to make the teeth all fit together, and teeth can’t be straightened without braces. The only option is to have them removed. Our dentists can determine which teeth to be removed. They might have to extract all of them or only a few.

An extraction of one or all of your wisdom teeth may also be recommended if:

·There is severe pain in the area

·There is swelling in the area

·There is incorrect angulation

·There is tooth decay

·Infections are recurring

·There is gum disease

Patients interested in learning more about our wisdom teeth removal services can schedule an appointment by calling us at (954) 742-3550 or by filling out our contact form online.