When would you need a wisdom tooth extraction?

Wisdom teeth are your third molars. Unlike your other teeth, you wisdom teeth do not appear in early childhood. Most people get their wisdom teeth between 17 and 25 years old. Many people have their wisdom teeth removed, and others never do. What is a Tooth Extraction? A tooth extraction is the process of having a tooth pulled.rnCases Where Wisdom Teeth Do Not Need to Be ExtractedrnThere are a few cases where you will not need to have your wisdom teeth extracted. Your wisdom teeth must meet all four criteria in order to avoid having them pulled.rnHealthy: Your wisdom teeth must be healthy in order to avoid extraction. If there are any cavities or decay, it is best to have them removed. Grown in completely: To avoid extraction, your wisdom teeth must have come through completely. If the tooth, or part of the tooth is impacted, it would need to be extracted.rnPositioned correctly: Your wisdom teeth would need to be positioned correctly to avoid extraction. If you bit down, and they do not fit properly over the opposite teeth, you would need to have them pulled.rnAbility to be cleaned: In order to keep your wisdom teeth, they must be in a place where you can reach them with your toothbrush and floss daily. If you cannot reach the teeth, they will become decayed. Cases Where Wisdom Teeth Need to Be ExtractedrnWhile there are a few circumstances where you avoid having your wisdom teeth pulled, there are several cases where you would need to. It is more common to have your wisdom teeth extracted, than not.rnNot enough room to grow: When there is not enough room in your mouth for your wisdom teeth to grow, problems can occur. When the teeth come through in a crowded mouth, they can grow at various angles in the jaw. They can even grow in horizontally. Impacted wisdom teeth: When your wisdom teeth emerge partially through the gums, it can be very painful. When this happens, it can create a passageway. This area can be hard to clean, creating bacteria which can lead to an oral infection, or gum disease. In some cases, the teeth never make it out of the gums, and remain completely hidden. When this happens, it is necessary to have the teeth extracted. Come in too close to the nerve: Often time, the wisdom teeth will grow in too close to the nerves in the lower jaw. When this occurs, the teeth must be removed because this condition can be very painful.rnPain: If your wisdom teeth are causing you any pain, you should have them extracted. Repeated infection: If you have repeated infections of the soft tissue behind your last tooth, chances are you would need to have it extracted. This will prevent these infections from occurring again.rnCysts: Cysts are fluid filled sacs which appear on the gums near the wisdom teeth. These cysts can lead to further dental problems, as well as other health problems. Damage to nearby teeth: If your wisdom teeth come in crooked, it can cause damage to the surrounding teeth. This can be painful.rnGum disease: If your wisdom teeth are causing gum disease, they should be extracted.rnExtensive tooth decay: When any of the teeth that came in during childhood become decayed, the dentist will fill the cavity, or in more severe cases, perform a root canal. When a wisdom tooth becomes seriously decayed, fillings and root canals are not an option. The tooth would be extracted. When Should Wisdom Teeth Be ExtractedrnMany dentists do not wait for patients to have problems with their wisdom teeth to remove them. When the teeth are extracted at a young age, you will recover from the surgery faster. This is because the wisdom teeth have not yet become rooted firmly in the jaw. The older you get, the more difficult the surgery can be. Having your wisdom teeth removed can be painful after the Novocaine has worn off. You will bleed for a few hours, and need to eat a soft diet for a few days. While the pain can be upsetting, it is nothing compared to the pain that you can feel if a problem with the wisdom tooth develops. You will be pain free within a few days following the procedure.