At River Valley Smile Center, our dentists believe that patients should carefully consider when to remove wisdom teeth. This can be a big decision with long-term impacts, so we like to make sure our patients are educated about their choices.
When deciding when wisdom teeth should be removed, there are a few different factors to take into consideration. First, wisdom teeth typically erupt from age 16-21. If your teeth are erupting between these ages, our dentists recommend you start monitoring their position and the health of the adjacent teeth. Depending on their eruption angle, the size of your mouth, and the positioning of the adjacent teeth, you may need to have them removed at an earlier age to prevent overcrowding and potential problems with your teeth alignment.
Secondly, wisdom teeth may be removed due to cavities, pain, swelling, and even damage to adjacent teeth. If you are at a higher risk of cavities, our dentists will likely recommend they be removed to help keep your smile healthy. Also, if you experience pain or swelling in the area of your wisdom teeth, our dentists may also suggest they be removed. This will not only alleviate the symptoms, but it can also prevent further damage to the teeth, gums, and the surrounding areas.
Lastly, if you’re preparing to have braces, you may want to consider having your wisdom teeth removed prior to treatment. Orthodontists typically like to see patients with all their adult teeth present before beginning treatment. Removing prior to braces will prevent any potential crowding of the teeth during treatment and ensure that the results of your braces last long-term.
At River Valley Smile Center, our dentists understand that the decision to remove wisdom teeth is not one to be taken lightly. Our goal is to provide our patients with all the necessary information and advice so that they can make an informed decision about when to remove theirs. To learn more about our services, give us a call today!
