Does Everyone Need Their Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Getting your wisdom teeth removed is a common rite of passage into adulthood. Because wisdom teeth tend to erupt during the late teens, many people have their wisdom teeth removed before heading off to college.  Dr. Afshin Vahadi and Dr. Vafa Mirshams offer surgical wisdom tooth extractions here at  Lone Star Dental Care in Frisco, Texas, for those who need them removed, but does everyone really need these third molars removed?

In this article, Dr. Vahadi and Dr. Mirshams shed light on this topic.

You might not need your wisdom teeth removed if …

Believe it or not, some people are born without wisdom teeth! This is more common in people who have a specific gene mutation on the PAX9 gene. Of course, if you don’t have any wisdom teeth, you get a free pass on the extractions. A simple x-ray can confirm the presence or absence of your wisdom teeth. Additionally, if your wisdom teeth have already erupted, have plenty of room, and aren’t causing any problems with your other teeth, you might not need a prophylactic extraction.

You might need your wisdom teeth removed if …

More likely than not, you may benefit from having your wisdom teeth removed. Simply put, humans are outgrowing their need for wisdom teeth, and the human jaw is much smaller than it was tens of thousands of years ago.

Below are seven signs that you may benefit from a wisdom tooth extraction:

• Your teeth are impacted (i.e., they haven’t erupted from your gumline), and there’s an indication that they’ll likely cause problems in the future
• Your teeth are partially impacted
• Your wisdom teeth are growing in at the wrong angle
• You have discomfort and pain from your teeth
• Your wisdom teeth have erupted but are causing problems
• Other complications have developed due to your wisdom teeth — examples include  cysts under the gums, crooked teeth, crowded teeth, and increased tooth decay
• You’ve developed an infection (pericoronitis) around your partially impacted tooth.

Interestingly, removing your wisdom teeth doesn’t just avoid the potential problems associated with a partial or full impaction; wisdom tooth removal also has a positive impact on your sense of taste. According to a 2021 study, removing wisdom teeth can improve your ability to taste food even decades after your surgery.

Preparing for wisdom tooth extraction

Once Dr. Vahadi or Dr. Mirshams determines that extraction is right for you, we schedule you for a surgical wisdom tooth extraction. IV sedation, administered under the expert care of Dr. Quenzar, our board-certified anesthesiologist, keeps you both calm and comfortable during your procedure. After your surgery, we provide specific at-home instructions to jumpstart your recovery. Your post-op instructions may include guidance on pain relief, instructions for eating soft foods, and a reminder to avoid straw usage after your surgery. 

Whether your wisdom teeth are giving you problems or you’re concerned about problems in the future, our team is here to help. To set up a wisdom tooth extraction consultation, call us or use our online scheduling tool today.