When Is the Best Time to Have Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Roughly between the ages of 17-25, most people begin to grow another set of molars called wisdom teeth or third molars. An individual can have anywhere between one and four wisdom teeth, and some people might not have any. If you do have them, you most likely don’t have room for them in your mouth. In this case, they need to be surgically removed.

The best time to have wisdom teeth removed will be different for each person because everyone’s wisdom teeth will grow at different rates. Most people should have them removed between the ages of 17-25, or when they start causing problems, for example, if they are:

• Causing you pain

• Partially erupted

• Impacted

• Crowding nearby teeth

What If I Don’t Have My Wisdom Teeth Removed?

If you delay having your wisdom teeth removed for too long, they can:

• Become infected. Wisdom teeth that should be removed but aren’t can develop an infection pericoronitis.

• Become impacted (if they aren’t already). When wisdom teeth don’t have enough room to grow, they can become impacted, which means they grow in sideways. This can be painful as they push on your other teeth, and it can also misalign your teeth.

• Develop cysts. A cyst is an inflamed pocket of fluid that can be painful and damage bone and gum tissue.

There are rare cases in which wisdom teeth do not need to be removed, only when they meet all the following requirements:

• They are fully erupted and grown in completely.

• They are not crowding other teeth.

• They are positioned correctly.

• They can be properly cleaned.

If it’s time for you to have your wisdom teeth removed, call or stop by Perry Dental & Perry Dental Kids in Perry, Utah to schedule an appointment today!