Does Age Matters To Get Wisdom Teeth Removed?
People in their mid-twenties are having their wisdom teeth removed in droves. Is it really necessary to remove your wisdom teeth and is there a right age to remove your wisdom teeth? Read on to find out whether age really matters when it comes to wisdom teeth removal.
According to the Australian Dental Association, wisdom teeth erupt between the ages of 17 and 21. Whether or not there is a right wisdom teeth removal age is a question that has been of concern to many people. When wisdom teeth erupt, they can either cause pain and discomfort or none at all. The following are some of reasons why people have their wisdom teeth removed.
If they are impacted
Wisdom teeth are vestigial structures in the human body, and that can sometimes mean that they will no longer be useful. With time, the human jaw has become smaller because of adaptation to our current eating habits, therefore making wisdom teeth vestigial. That is why they may become impacted when they erupt, causing pain and discomfort. This will therefore warrant that you have them removed.
If they are hard to clean
Sometimes, your wisdom teeth can erupt normally without causing you any problems. However, in cases where your wisdom teeth are getting in the way of your oral hygiene, you have to get them extracted. Bad oral hygiene can cause other complications such as cavities and periodontal diseases.
If they are causing crowding
Since the human jaw has become smaller, eruption of the wisdom teeth can cause your teeth to become crowded. Crowded teeth come with a host of other complications such as misalignment and low self-esteem.
Does Age Matters To Get Wisdom Teeth Removed?
As you can already see, age is not really a factor that determines whether you need to remove your wisdom teeth or not. However, dentists always recommend that you have your wisdom teeth removed between ages 18 to 25. The reason being that as you grow older, your wisdom teeth get deeply rooted into your jaw and in case they cause any complications in the future, extraction will be a painful affair. For instance, if you have wisdom teeth at the age of 70, extraction will be much more complicated compared to if you have them extracted between age of 18 and 25. Healing takes longer for older people than younger people.
Another reason your dentist may recommend that you have your wisdom teeth removed is that they may alter the aesthetic appearance of your teeth. If your dentist examines the potential crowding that might occur as a result of your wisdom teeth erupting, he may recommend that you have them removed. This will save you a lot of trouble in the future such as getting braces and things like that.
Bottom Line
All in all, it is best to consult with your dentist so as to determine whether you need to remove your wisdom teeth and when. If you are looking for the right professional advice, our dentist in Melbourne will be happy to offer professional advice.