Having your wisdom teeth out may not seem like a big deal, especially if you can’t even see them or feel them. But did you know that leaving impacted wisdom teeth in place can put your oral health at risk? If you’ve been thinking that removing yours isn’t important, and “if it isn’t broke, why fix it,” here are six important reasons why you should remove your impacted wisdom teeth sooner than later!
Infection
One of the most common dangers of impacted wisdom teeth is that they’re at a high risk of infection. This can both be extremely painful and can spread to other teeth and throughout the mouth and body.
Tooth decay
If your impacted wisdom teeth do become infected, if they are left untreated, they could begin to decay. Treating decayed wisdom teeth is much harder than treating regular, fully emerged teeth, so removing them before they have a chance to do this is always a better idea!
Gum disease
Gum disease is very common when you have infected wisdom teeth. The specific name for the condition is pericoronitis, and it can cause a variety of issues including tooth loss and jawbone deterioration if left untreated.
Damage to surrounding teeth
Impacted wisdom teeth often grow sideways, causing them to push into neighboring teeth. This can push them out of alignment, or in some cases may even cause them to crack or break.
Ulcers
If your impacted wisdom teeth grow in the wrong direction, they can rub against your cheek and cause pain or ulcers to form. Though these are not permanent, they can be very painful and will likely reappear over and over again until your wisdom teeth are removed.
Cysts
Cysts are extremely painful and dangerous complications of impacted wisdom teeth. If a cyst forms within the sac inside your jawbone where the tooth is growing, it can form a tumor that could require the need to remove tissue or portions of your jawbone to correct.
Remember, if your dentist has recommended removing your impacted wisdom teeth, even if they’re not bothering you right now it is still extremely important to take care of this sooner rather than later. Keeping impacted wisdom teeth can have a number of dangerous side effects that can harm not just your wisdom teeth, but your entire mouth.
About Our Practice
At Gold Coast Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Dr. Yusupov and Dr. Yunov are proud to provide a variety of oral health solutions to help protect your smile from dangerous conditions like impacted wisdom teeth. Remember, even if they don’t hurt now doesn’t mean they’re harmless or won’t hurt later. If you’re ready to have your wisdom teeth extracted and safeguard your teeth and gums from the many dangers of your third molars, please contact us today for a consultation by visiting our website or calling us directly at 516-744-6262.