What Happens If You Don't Get Your Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Whether you’re just starting to get your wisdom teeth or you’ve had them for a few years, you may be wondering if you really need to have them removed. Is wisdom tooth removal really necessary? What happens if you don’t have your wisdom teeth removed?

The short answer? Nothing will happen if your wisdom teeth are healthy. But if your wisdom teeth are damaged, impacted (not fully erupted), or otherwise are not healthy, wisdom tooth removal is usually the best option for preserving your oral health. Still have questions? Let’s get into the details.

Understanding The Basics Of Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are your third set of molars. They're a natural part of the mouth, but they erupt a lot later than your other teeth. Typically, you’ll have all of your other adult teeth by the age of 12-13, but your wisdom teeth won’t come out until sometime between the ages of 17-25.

If the wisdom teeth are healthy, they can be left in place without any issues. Many people are able to keep their wisdom teeth if they have enough space for them to erupt properly. However, over the last few thousand years, the size of the human jaw has shrunk.

This means that in many cases, the wisdom teeth do not have enough space to erupt properly. They may even grow at an angle or even sideways. This is known as “impaction,” and is the most common reason for wisdom tooth removal.

What Happens When Wisdom Teeth Aren’t Healthy?

If your wisdom teeth are impacted or are not healthy, they can cause serious oral health issues. For example, if wisdom teeth grow into your mouth sideways or at an angle, they can crowd out the nearby teeth, or even damage the underlying nerves and structure of your other molars.

Even if they don’t directly damage the nearby teeth, wisdom teeth can cause other issues like a higher risk of gum disease, oral infections, and even tooth decay. If your back teeth are very crowded, it may be nearly impossible to clean between them on your own, even if you do your best to brush and floss thoroughly.

For these reasons and more, wisdom teeth extractions are typically the best way to treat unhealthy or impacted wisdom teeth. Once your wisdom teeth are out, you won’t have to worry about any further wisdom teeth complications or other oral health issues.

The Risks Of Not Removing Unhealthy Wisdom Teeth

If your wisdom teeth are not healthy, tooth extraction is usually the best option for treatment. But what happens if you don’t have your wisdom teeth extracted? Here are just a few of the risks that you might face:

• Continued pain and discomfort – If you’re already in pain, it won’t get better without wisdom tooth extractions. Leaving your wisdom teeth in place will only lead to more oral pain, headaches, sensitivity, and other complications.
• Potential oral infections – A common issue with impacted wisdom teeth is an “operculum.” This is a flap of gum tissue that forms over the tooth, which can catch food particles and oral bacteria, leading to a higher risk of oral infections.
  
  
• Higher risk of gum disease and tooth decay – Unhealthy wisdom teeth, gum disease, and tooth decay are closely linked. Because of tooth crowding between your wisdom teeth and your second set of molars, it may be difficult to brush and floss the rear of your mouth, raising your risk of both periodontal disease and cavities.
• More difficulty removing teeth in the future – The longer you wait to have your wisdom teeth extracted, the more difficult it is to remove them. As you age, the wisdom teeth and surrounding jawbone become tougher, denser, and stronger. This makes the extraction process more complicated. In general, it’s best to have them removed before you’re 30.

Recognizing The Signs You Need Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Every patient is different. However, there are a few common signs that your wisdom teeth may be infected, impacted, or otherwise unhealthy. Here are some symptoms you should look out for to see if you may need to have your wisdom teeth pulled: 

• Oral and jaw pain, especially in the rear of your mouth
• Frequent headaches and/or sinus issues
• Tooth sensitivity to heat, cold, and the pressure of chewing
• Gum inflammation and discoloration near the tooth
• Facial swelling or jaw swelling near the rear of your mouth
• Your tooth is visibly impacted (hasn’t fully erupted from the gums)
• Swollen lymph nodes under the jaw
• Bad breath (halitosis)
• Fever

If you notice one or more of these symptoms, you should consult with Dr. Pappas or one of the dentists at Grove City Smiles right away. The sooner you have your wisdom teeth pulled, the sooner you can get your oral health back on track.

The Benefits of Wisdom Teeth Removal

Get out of pain

First and foremost, wisdom tooth extractions allow you to get back to your daily routine without the distraction of a toothache, jaw pain, sinus issues, and headaches. These symptoms can make it nearly impossible to focus on work, school, family responsibilities, and the other things that are important in your life.

Prevent other complications

Pulling unhealthy wisdom teeth can prevent lots of other complications including oral infections, cavities, gum disease, damage to the surrounding teeth, and much more. By having your wisdom teeth pulled, you can prevent damage to your healthy teeth and gums.

Save time and money, too

Because wisdom teeth removal prevents further dental complications, you’ll be able to avoid the need for other costly treatments like root canals, fillings, crowns, and gum disease treatment. Wisdom tooth extractions are generally quite affordable and are covered up to applicable limits by dental insurance. We also offer payment plans at Grove City Smiles to ensure that treatment costs don’t stop you from getting the expert dental care you need.

Enjoy peace of mind

Unhealthy wisdom teeth can be a big source of anxiety! But once you have your wisdom teeth extracted at Grove City Smiles, you won’t have to worry about them anymore. You’ll be able to relax and know that you’ve taken the necessary steps to protect your oral health and make sure your smile stays healthy.

How Do I Know If My Wisdom Teeth Need To Be Pulled?

It’s not always easy to tell on your own. In some cases, your wisdom teeth may be unhealthy and could lead to other oral health issues without any obvious symptoms like oral pain, sinus issues, or tooth sensitivity.

The best option is to consult with a dental professional, such as Dr. Michael Pappas or another dentist at Grove City Smiles. We practice conservative dentistry at our office, which means we will only recommend wisdom tooth extractions if we truly believe they are necessary for your oral health.

During your visit, your dentist will perform a visual exam, take X-rays and digital images, and diagnose the extent of the issues with your wisdom teeth. If your wisdom teeth are healthy, there’s no need to remove them! But if they look like they may cause issues with your smile in the future, we will let you know and discuss your options for wisdom tooth extraction.

Visit Grove City Smiles For Help With Your Wisdom Teeth

Ready to get your wisdom teeth removed in Grove City? Still not sure if wisdom tooth extractions are necessary for you? Whatever the case may be, Dr. Pappas and the dentists at Grove City Smiles are here to help. We offer expert diagnostic care and gentle wisdom tooth extractions in Grove City, OH.

We also offer a full suite of sedation dentistry options at our office, including IV sedation, to keep you comfortable if you do need to have your wisdom teeth pulled. So don’t wait. Call now at (614) 350-5300 or book your visit online to get the expert care you need.