Should Your Wisdom Teeth Come Out?

Dr. Dustin Pambianchi • May 7, 2021

Many of us have heard the saying “with age, comes wisdom”, right? But what about “with age, comes wisdom teeth”?

Joking aside, wisdom teeth actually do come with age — that’s how they get their name! For most people, permanent teeth come in between the ages of 6-7, but wisdom teeth (also known as the third molars) start to come in between the ages of 17-24.

I’ve helped many patients through the wisdom teeth removal process over the years and know that it can sometimes come with some skepticism and anxiety. A few of the questions my patients commonly ask me about wisdom teeth include:

Why are wisdom teeth so commonly removed?
Does wisdom teeth removal hurt?
And what’s the recovery like, anyway?

In today’s blog post, we’ll review all of this and more. Let’s get started!

Why do wisdom teeth need to be removed?

The main problem with wisdom teeth is the size of the human jaw — most jaws today are too small to allow adequate room for the wisdom teeth to grow in. This can cause a few different problems:

Overcrowding

In this scenario, the third molars still try to grow in — but because there’s not enough space, they grow in crooked or even sideways. This often causes teeth to shift or overcrowd as they try to make room for the wisdom teeth.

Impacted wisdom teeth

Sometimes, the wisdom teeth get stuck and never fully erupt above the gums. These are called “impacted” wisdom teeth. “Great!” you’re probably thinking. “As long as the wisdom teeth don’t grow above the gums, I won’t need to get them removed, right?” Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Impacted wisdom teeth become trapped in the jaw, and can cause pain, discomfort, tooth shifting, and even tooth damage if left where they are.

Increased risk of tooth decay or gum disease

In instances where the wisdom teeth partially come in, barely erupting above the gum line, there’s an increased risk of developing tooth decay or gum disease around this and nearby teeth. These teeth are often difficult to clean and care for.

Here at The Winning Smile Dental Group, we won’t recommend wisdom teeth removal unless they are causing problems (or we think they might). So if your wisdom teeth are growing properly and are not…

Causing you pain
Overcrowding your teeth
Making it hard to brush or floss your teeth

We likely won’t recommend removal.

How do you know if your wisdom teeth need to be removed?

Chances are, you hardly remember losing your first tooth — much less how it felt when it grew in! So when your wisdom teeth start to come in, it’s natural to wonder what you should expect. A few signs your or your child’s wisdom teeth are coming in include:

Mild pain in the jaw
Swollen gums behind the back molars
Trouble opening the mouth wide
Bad breath
A bad taste in the mouth
Frequently biting your tongue or cheek when you eat (indicating your teeth are in the process of shifting)
Headaches

These expected symptoms are pretty common with wisdom teeth. However, sometimes there are more serious signs that may require you to see a dentist as soon as possible. Here are some of those signs to look out for:

Teeth that feel loose or are noticeably shifting
Gums that are visibly receding
Swollen cheeks
Toothache
Increased tooth sensitivity

However, wisdom teeth, especially if they’re impacted, won’t always show clear symptoms that they need to be removed.

That’s why it’s important to maintain your regular 6-month dental exams here at The Winning Smile Dental Group. Each exam includes dental x-rays, which makes it easy for me and our educated team to spot wisdom teeth as they are trying to grow in.

Whether you’re experiencing some of the above symptoms, or it’s been awhile since your last 6-month dental exam, contact us today to schedule your appointment!

Does wisdom teeth removal hurt?

This question is usually top of mind with my patients. The thought of having teeth extracted sounds uncomfortable, to say the least. But thanks to advancement in dental technology and the experienced team here at The Winning Smile Dental Group, it’s much more comfortable than you think.

Our comfort-first approach includes:

A relaxing office environment
A variety of amenities for your comfort, including noise cancelling headphones and TV
A friendly team ready to answer any questions you have
Sedation options that help quell anxiety and wear off shortly after the procedure

How long does it take to get your wisdom teeth removed?

The short answer: it depends on the person! When planning any dental procedure, I always consider my patients’ current oral health as well as their overall health. I also take into account the complexity o a case —for example, if the wisdom teeth have already erupted above the gum line, the extraction is usually pretty fast and straightforward. However, more time is often required for impacted wisdom teeth, as the extraction technique is more complex.

Not sure what that means for you? We’ll always make sure to talk through exactly what to expect before any procedure.

Recovery from wisdom teeth removal

Following the wisdom teeth removal procedure, you’ll likely feel some mild pain, soreness, and discomfort that can usually be managed by prescribed or over-the-counter pain medication and cold compresses.

For most people, it takes about 3-4 days to recover from wisdom teeth removal, but it may take up to a week or more depending on the case. During that time, you should plan to take it easy — limit any activity that may irritate the stitches and incision site and stick to a diet of soft foods.

If you’re like me and have occasionally daydreamed about eating mashed potatoes for a few days straight, you’re in luck! Following the removal procedure, we typically recommend a diet of things like:

Mashed potatoes
Yogurt
Cottage cheese
Soup
Pudding
Smoothies

However, it’s important not to use a straw to consume any of the soft foods for at least a week after your wisdom teeth have been removed. This can irritate the incision site and cause a delay in healing.