When you hear the dentist suggest extracting your wisdom teeth, you might be filled with confusion: “Wisdom teeth are clearly part of the teeth. Why must they be extracted?” What consequences will there be if it is not pulled out? In fact, whether to extract wisdom teeth is not a doctor’s arbitrary decision, but rather a comprehensive consideration based on multiple factors such as the growth condition of wisdom teeth and their impact on oral health. Next, as a dentist, I will provide you with an in-depth analysis of the common reasons why wisdom teeth need to be extracted.
Insufficient growth space for wisdom teeth leads to impaction
During the process of human evolution, the jawbone has gradually become smaller, and wisdom teeth, as the last teeth to emerge in the oral cavity, often face the problem of insufficient growth space. Impacted wisdom teeth are formed when wisdom teeth fail to erupt normally and are blocked by the gums, adjacent teeth or alveolar bone. This is one of the most common reasons for the need to extract wisdom teeth.
Horizontal impaction causes damage to adjacent teeth
Horizontal impacted wisdom teeth refer to wisdom teeth that grow laterally, with their crowns pressing against the roots of adjacent teeth. Imagine that there is a tooth constantly squeezing the adjacent teeth like a wedge. Over time, the root of the adjacent tooth will gradually be absorbed and the tooth tissue will also be damaged. Clinically, many patients have impacted wisdom teeth horizontally, which leads to caries, pulpitis, and even tooth loosening and loss in adjacent teeth. Even if the adjacent teeth show no obvious symptoms for the time being, food debris can easily remain between the wisdom teeth and the adjacent teeth, making cleaning difficult and increasing the risk of tooth decay and periodontitis in the adjacent teeth.
Vertical obstruction causes pericoronitis
Although the vertical impacted wisdom teeth have their crowns facing normally, due to part of the crowns being covered by the gums, a blind pocket will form between the gums and the crowns. This blind bag is like a “small room” full of dirt and grime, where food residues and bacteria can easily accumulate. When the body’s resistance declines, for instance, due to a cold, staying up late or overwork, bacteria will multiply in large numbers, causing pericoronitis of wisdom teeth. Patients may experience redness, swelling and pain in the gums around their wisdom teeth. In severe cases, they may even have limited mouth opening, difficulty swallowing, facial swelling, and may also be accompanied by systemic symptoms such as fever and swollen lymph nodes. Once pericoronitis occurs, it is not only extremely painful but also prone to recurrence. Only by extracting wisdom teeth can the problem be fundamentally solved.
Inverted generation has significant potential hazards
The growth direction of inverted impacted wisdom teeth is completely abnormal, with the tooth crown facing the interior of the alveolar bone. Although this type of wisdom tooth may not have obvious symptoms in the early stage, it will continue to grow in the jawbone, squeezing the surrounding nerves, blood vessels and other dental tissues, and there is a potential risk of causing jawbone cysts and tumors. Once cysts or tumors form, they will disrupt the normal structure of the jawbone, seriously affecting oral function and facial morphology, and the difficulty of treatment will also increase significantly. Therefore, for inverted impacted wisdom teeth, even if there are no symptoms, it is usually recommended to extract them as soon as possible to eliminate potential risks.
The decay of wisdom teeth cannot be repaired
Wisdom teeth are located relatively far back, making it difficult to clean them thoroughly during daily brushing, which makes them prone to decay. If the degree of decay of wisdom teeth is relatively mild, it can also be treated by filling the tooth. However, if the tooth decay is severe, affecting the dental pulp and causing pulpitis or periapical periodontitis, or if the area of tooth decay is too large and the tooth tissue is severely damaged, making it impossible to preserve through methods such as dental filling or root canal treatment, extraction is required.
Caries cause severe pain
When the decay of wisdom teeth affects the dental pulp, bacteria can infect the pulp tissue, causing pulpitis. The pain of pulpitis is extremely severe and often presents as spontaneous pain, meaning it occurs even without external stimulation. Moreover, the pain tends to intensify at night, making it difficult for people to fall asleep. As the condition progresses, the inflammation spreads to the tissues around the root tip, leading to periapical periodontitis and presenting symptoms such as biting pain and swollen gums. At this point, even if root canal treatment is carried out, due to the complex anatomical structure of wisdom teeth, the treatment is difficult and the treatment effect is hard to guarantee. Moreover, problems such as reinfection may occur in the later stage. Therefore, for wisdom teeth with severe caries, extraction is a more appropriate treatment method.
Dental caries affect the health of adjacent teeth
After wisdom teeth decay, not only is it difficult to protect oneself, but it can also affect the health of adjacent teeth. The decayed area is prone to food residue, becoming a breeding ground for bacteria. Bacteria will gradually spread to adjacent teeth, causing caries in the adjacent teeth as well. In addition, decayed wisdom teeth may become fragile and are prone to breaking during chewing. The broken fragments may damage adjacent teeth or surrounding tissues. To protect the health of adjacent teeth and prevent the condition from worsening further, wisdom teeth with severe caries that cannot be retained should be extracted in a timely manner.
Wisdom teeth cause malocclusion
Under normal circumstances, the occlusal relationship of teeth is coordinated with each other, which can ensure the normal performance of the chewing function. However, abnormal growth of wisdom teeth may disrupt this balance, leading to occlusal disorders.
The elongation of wisdom teeth affects occlusion
If there is no corresponding tooth in the opposite jaw of a wisdom tooth, this wisdom tooth will keep elongating. Elongated wisdom teeth will exceed the normal occlusal plane, forming poor occlusal contact with the opposing teeth and disrupting the normal occlusal relationship. When chewing, this abnormal bite can cause uneven force on the teeth, leading to temporomandibular joint disorders, with symptoms such as joint pain, clicking, and limited mouth opening. At the same time, long-term uneven force on teeth can also lead to accelerated tooth wear and affect the service life of teeth. In order to restore the normal occlusal relationship and protect the temporomandibular joint and other teeth, such elongated wisdom teeth without opposing teeth need to be extracted.
The tilt of wisdom teeth interferes with the bite
When wisdom teeth grow at an Angle, they will form a gap with adjacent teeth, affecting the normal chewing and swallowing of food. Moreover, tilted wisdom teeth can change the direction of force on the teeth, causing abnormal lateral forces on adjacent teeth, leading to their loosening and displacement, and thereby affecting the stability of the entire dental arch. In addition, tilted wisdom teeth can also interfere with normal occlusal movements, reducing chewing efficiency and increasing the burden on the stomach and intestines. Therefore, for tilted wisdom teeth that cause occlusal disorders, it is generally recommended to extract them to restore normal oral function and occlusal relationship.
Orthodontic treatment is needed
When undergoing orthodontic treatment, in order to achieve good therapeutic effects and create sufficient space to align the teeth, wisdom teeth sometimes need to be extracted.
Provide space for aligning the teeth
One of the goals of orthodontic treatment is to align misaligned teeth and establish a good occlusal relationship. If the teeth are severely crowded and there is not enough space to accommodate all the teeth, tooth extraction is needed to create gaps. Wisdom teeth are located at the very back of the dental arch. Their extraction has a relatively small impact on the chewing function and can provide sufficient space for the adduction and alignment of the anterior teeth, enabling orthodontic treatment to proceed smoothly and achieve the desired therapeutic effect.
Prevent orthodontic recurrence
During orthodontic treatment, the presence of wisdom teeth may have adverse effects on teeth that have already been aligned. Even after orthodontic treatment is completed, the eruption or change in the growth direction of wisdom teeth may cause adjacent teeth to shift, making the teeth uneven again, affecting the stability of orthodontic treatment and leading to orthodontic recurrence. Therefore, in order to ensure the effectiveness of orthodontic treatment and prevent recurrence, in some orthodontic cases, doctors will recommend extracting wisdom teeth in advance.
Other special circumstances
In addition to the common reasons mentioned above, there are also some special circumstances where wisdom teeth need to be extracted.
Prophylactic extraction for women preparing for pregnancy
For women who are preparing for pregnancy, if there are wisdom teeth in the mouth that may cause problems, it is recommended to have them extracted before getting pregnant. During pregnancy, the hormone levels in a woman’s body change, which increases the sensitivity of the gums to bacteria and makes it easier to cause pericoronitis of wisdom teeth. During pregnancy, due to the limitations of medication and treatment, once pericoronitis of wisdom teeth occurs, the treatment becomes extremely difficult. It not only causes pain to the pregnant woman but may also affect the health of the fetus. Therefore, to avoid oral problems during pregnancy, women preparing for pregnancy should have an oral examination before pregnancy and have potential risky wisdom teeth extracted in a timely manner.
Wisdom teeth can cause systemic diseases
Although relatively rare, inflammation of wisdom teeth may sometimes cause systemic diseases. When pericoronitis or periapical periodontitis of wisdom teeth is not treated promptly and effectively, the inflammation will spread to the surrounding tissues and even enter the bloodstream, causing systemic infection. For instance, it may lead to serious diseases such as maxillofacial space infection and sepsis, threatening life and health. In addition, for patients with systemic diseases such as diabetes, inflammation of wisdom teeth can make blood sugar control more difficult and aggravate the condition. In this case, in order to control inflammation and ensure overall health, wisdom teeth also need to be extracted.
Conclusion
Whether wisdom teeth need to be extracted is a question that requires careful judgment. If you have any doubts about the condition of your wisdom teeth, it is recommended that you go to a regular dental hospital for a check-up in time. The doctor will conduct a detailed assessment of the growth of your wisdom teeth and their impact on oral health through oral examinations, X-rays, etc., and formulate a personalized treatment plan for you. Remember, although extracting wisdom teeth is a minor surgery, it is also an important measure to maintain oral health. Don’t delay treatment out of fear, or it may cause you greater pain and loss.
Related topics:
General Symptoms of Wisdom Teeth
What Causes Wisdom Tooth Pain?
