What Happens If You Don’t Remove Your Wisdom Teeth?
The third molars, also known as wisdom teeth, normally develop in late twenties or early twenties. To most individuals, they come without complications but with a big number they lead to serious dental complications. And, in case you have been procrastinating the wisdom tooth removal procedure or even consider yourself to be not in need of it, you are not the only one. The most common question posed by many patients is what happens when you do not extract your wisdom teeth? The response here will be better determined by how they are developing, but generally, the after effects of not extracting problem dental wisdom teeth may include not only persistent pain, but permanent loss of oral health.
This article demystifies the actual dangers of retaining wisdom teeth which must be removed, and makes you realize when to take action.
Crowding of the Mouth and Jaw
Overcrowding is one of the most general problems that are complete related to unremoved wisdom teeth. Your mouth is also limited in the space it holds and when the wisdom teeth come to push through, they clash with existing teeth. This will trigger a domino effect of dental issues that is not only limited to the back of your mouth, but your whole bite.
How Affected Wise teeth Press Close Teeth
In the case of a trapped wisdom tooth, i.e., one that is stuck under the gum, or is growing out at an inconvenient angle, it causes constant impaction on the other second molar. This force may over time weaken the roots of the neighbouring teeth, decrease bone loss around them, and result in the decay of those places that cannot be properly cleaned. Affected wisdom teeth may be partially or fully submerged and in any case, the effect that they have is not ceased by being unseen.
Shifting or Dislocation of Tiny teeth in front
It is a shocking revelation to many patients that the presence of wisdom teeth may shift their front teeth. Although there is still controversy in the dentistry community as to how far the actual influence of wisdom teeth on the front of the mouth is directly caused, there is clinical evidence that the stress of the emerging third molars causes progressive movement of teeth. You might find that your lower front teeth are starting to clash or that they are becoming tighter than before. This movement is capable of influencing the symmetry of your smiling and general bite.
Impactions on Braces and Orthodontics
When you have had orthodontic work done or your child or child has it, the wisdom teeth can be a complete detriment to this work. The new pressure by the third molars may undo years of work, and teeth may be pushed out of shape. Often, orthodontists prescribe wisdom teeth removal prior to, concurrently, or following the braces in order to make treatment effects long-term. One of the most widespread causes that make individuals relapse after an orthodontic treatment is ignoring this advice.
Risks of Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
Wisdom teeth especially the partially erupted ones provide optimal environments that allow bacteria to grow. Being placed at the farthest end of the mouth, they are infamously hard to clean properly using the toothbrush and floss. Plaque and food particles settle in the flap of the gum tissue, which partially covers the tooth, a pocket that is referred to as a pericoronal flap, which causes the accumulation of bacteria that cannot be removed by toothbrushes.
This often leads to infection of gum tissue around an erupting tooth referred to as pericoronitis. The symptoms consist of swelling, pain, bad breath and inability to open the mouth to full extent. Unattended, pericoronitis may turn out to be an implacable and worsening issue. In addition to gum infection, the challenge of cleaning around the wisdom teeth also increases the likelihood of the development of cavities in the wisdom teeth as well as on the adjacent second molars, which are otherwise healthy teeth and may be affected by being near the wisdom teeth.
Higher Danger of Cysts around Wisdom Teeth
The long-term effects of keeping affected wisdom teeth may be the most severe, as they may develop cysts or in extreme instances, tumours. A dentigerous cyst occurs when a fluid filled sac surrounds the tooth crown when the wisdom tooth is still impacted beneath the gum line. These cysts may grow gradually with time, and they may not produce any symptoms when they are in the early stages.
Unattended, cysts may erode portions of the jawbone, destroy the roots of the neighboring teeth, damage nerves and pose serious structural concerns that may need complex surgical intervention to repair. The walls of these cysts, in some exceptional cases, may change to cause more severe conditions. Reproductive hysterectomy by removing the affected wisdom teeth so early eradicates this risk. When a cyst is detected on an X-ray, there may be much destruction already done to it, and that is why a regular dental checkup and proactive approach are very essential.
Ongoing Pain and Discomfort
Some individuals just put up with the pain of wisdom teeth much longer than they need to and they tend to ignore it as minor or short lived. Initially a pang and pang, but then it becomes a constant thing that causes you pain in your day to day living.
Localised Pain on the Jaw Around the Wisdom Teeth.
When the wisdom teeth impact on other structures, they may result in a pain that is dull and aching and spreads to the jaw. This pain can be localized in the back of the mouth although it can extend to the ear, cheek, and neck. A feeling of pressure or fullness behind the back molars that patients feel is not resolved quite even with over-the-counter pain relievers is described by many patients (in my opinion, this is where the use of sedatives is necessary). This pain is more likely to be increased under the conditions of active tooth movement or infection.
Swelling or Throbbing Sensation Intermittent.
Frequent swellings around some erupted wisdom teeth are a typical symptom of the body struggling with an infection or with the pressure and trauma. Such outbursts can appear and disappear, and the problem could seem to be solved, yet the root of the issue still exists. The fact that the swelling or throbbing exists in each episode is an indication that the tooth is actively damaging the situation, and it will not get better on its own.
Loss of Bone Density in the Jaw
It may take time before the bone which surrounds the wisdom teeth and supports them degenerates due to chronic infection and inflammation in the area. This bone loss does not only occurs in the area of the wisdom teeth but may extend to the other molars, which weaken their structural base and expose them to the possibility of losing their teeth in that region.
The presence of cysts is also a cause of bone loss in the jaw. When these cysts increase in size, they can resorb the bone surrounding them which may weaken significant parts of the jaw. The process of restoring lost bone is far more sophisticated, expensive and painful than avoiding the loss by extracting it in a timely manner. In case a patient waits many years before seeking treatment, the surgery per se might get more complex and demand the attention of the specialists and a more extended recovery period.
Other Long-term oral health complications.
Damage to Nearby Molars
At particular risk are the second molars that are directly in front of wisdom teeth. Impaction of an affected wisdom tooth can result in resorption which consists of the literal eating away of the root of the second molar by the force of the invasive tooth. This may result in the loss of the second molar which is also salvageable just because it was not addressed on time with regard to the wisdom tooth.
Wisdom Tooth Root Damage
In older patients, the roots of wisdom teeth still grow larger and may take on a more curved, long or entangled up with the inferior alveolar nerve. The younger patients do not necessarily have long roots and they are usually undeveloped and thus, extraction is easily done but the aged patient might have a much more complicated process. Delaying excessively may reduce a normal removal to a case of high risk surgery.
Higher Chances of Cracked or Broken Wisdom Teeth.
Wisdom teeth that have partially erupted are not only difficult to clean, but can easily be structurally weak. Their odd angle of emergence combined with the fact that they have been subjected to high forces of biting in the molar area predisposes them to cracking or fracturing. A fractured wisdom tooth may develop acutely and become infected and may need more involved emergency treatment than planned extraction would have entailed.
When You Advise Removing Your Wisdom Teeth.
Not all the wisdom teeth have to be removed. In case they are entirely erupted, well aligned and easily cleaned, certain patients retain them without any problem. Nevertheless, the subsequent symptoms are a good indication that taking away is a possibility.
Persistent Pain or Swelling
Pain or swelling in the back of the jaw that lasts over a few days or continues to reoccur should be evaluated by a dentist. Although the symptoms may appear to be controllable, they are usually an indication of something wrong, which can never be sorted without intervention.
Recurrent Periodontal infections of a Partially Erupting Tooth
Coronary infection can be allowed to be treated with antibiotics, but recurrent pericoronitis is a good sign that the wisdom tooth should be extracted. The antibiotics treat the symptom, and not the cause of the problem – and a recurring infection raises the chances of further complications.
Shifting of Teeth; Post Orthodontic.
When you realize that your teeth have moved after undergoing orthodontic treatment, then there are possibilities that you also have wisdom teeth. Talk to your orthodontist or dentist about this to see whether it is necessary to have it extracted. Jaw Tension, headaches, or Pressure in the Jaws.
Wisdom teeth which influence the bite or place a strain on the jaw muscles may cause headache and pain on the face and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Although not every jaw pain is related to wisdom teeth, this is something that has to be researched by a dentist.
Conclusion
Whether or not you do nothing with your wisdom teeth is not a question that has a single answer, but it still involves some serious risks, which are documented. Since crowding and decay lead to cysts, bone loss, as well as damage to adjacent teeth, effects of retaining problematic wisdom teeth could get out of proportions with time. The sooner the problem is detected and solved, the less complicated and potentially risky the process is.
When you are not sure that you should have your wisdom teeth removed, you should start with an appointment by a qualified dental practitioner. A panoramic X-ray will also see what is going on below the gum line and enable your dentist to recommend you according to your unique anatomy and risk factors. There is no need to wait until a crisis occurs and then respond to it; proactive care is always preferable to emergency care.
FAQs
- Should wisdom teeth be retained although not painful?
It may be, and the manifestation of pain is not the sole sign of an issue. Silent affected wisdom teeth and cysts may have been years old. To check the presence of wisdom teeth that have not been removed, regular check-ups and X-rays are the most effective.
- Are there problems with wisdom teeth in the future?
Yes. Cysts, loss of bone, decay in neighboring of teeth and shifting can all be experienced with a slow progressive passage of years. The fact that the wisdom teeth are asymptomatic does not imply that these teeth are not going to be a major issue in the future.
- What are the symptoms of affected wisdom teeth?
The typical symptoms are pain or pressure in the back part of the jaw, swollen or sore gums, inability to open the mouth wide and bad breath with a bad taste in the mouth close to the back teeth. Impaction is most definitely determined by an X-ray.
- Do wisdom teeth give headaches or pain in the jaw?
Yes. Wisdom teeth that put pressure on the adjacent teeth or create a bite influence may contribute to jaw tension, and facial pains and headaches. Impacted or improperly positioned wisdom teeth can also worsen the symptoms of TMJ.
- Are wisdom teeth necessarily to be extracted?
Not always. The fully erupted and well oriented wisdom teeth that can be easily cleaned out may not need removal. Most individuals however lack enough room in their jaw to allow the wisdom teeth to develop without causing any complications hence the widespread recommendation of extraction.