Wisdom Teeth Removal: When & Why Your Teenage Child Need it?

Are you aware of possible dental health issues if wisdom teeth are not removed? Do you know when to take your kids to the orthodontist for wisdom teeth evaluation? Wisdom teeth refer to the third molar you get between 17 and 21 years of age and need to remove them varies in severity.

You might already be aware that most people opt for wisdom teeth removal. That’s because our mouths are too small for four additional molars. But do you know about the symptoms indicating the need for wisdom tooth extraction?

What are the Signs Indicating the Need for Your Child’s Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Not everyone who needs a wisdom teeth extraction will experience particular symptoms. But some most common signs and symptoms of this troublemaker are as follows:-

• Infection and cavities in wisdom teeth and surrounding teeth as they are hard to clean.
• Bad breath coming from the mouth.
• Swelling on the face due to the swelling of the gums at the back of the jaw.
• Gums can also feel tender and bleed sometimes.
• Experiencing trouble in opening mouth.
• Wisdom teeth pain along with pain in the jaw and gums.
• Shifting of other teeth because of the eruption of wisdom teeth.

What if Wisdom Teeth are Not Removed?

Dealing with your teenager’s wisdom teeth is yet another step in the oral care of your child.  The wisdom teeth that create problems due to their abnormal growth are also known as impacted wisdom teeth. Not removing these impacted wisdom teeth may invite various dental issues. Some of them are mentioned below:-

• Damage to Other Teeth: Our mouths are not designed to fit four extra molars. So these growing wisdom teeth can push other teeth around and damage them.
  

• Cyst Development: A sac filled with fluid can develop near the wisdom teeth. It’s quite painful and troubling.
  

• Jaw Damage: If these cysts are not treated, they can hollow the jaw and damage the nerves.
  

• Aggravated Sinus: The pain and pressure of the wisdom teeth may result in congestion and sinus pain.
  

• Tumor Development: Sometimes, a tumor can also develop with cysts around the impacted wisdom teeth.
  

• Inflamed Gums: The development of an extra molar creates a disturbance in gums leading to inflammation and pain in the gums.
  

• Decay of the Adjacent Tooth: The adjacent tooth gets most affected by the third molar as its root gets disturbed due to abnormal eruption of the teeth.
  

• Bacteria and Plaque Build-up: Due to abnormal growth, the wisdom tooth and its adjacent area are difficult to clean. Thus often, plaque and bacteria get accumulated, leading to cavities and tooth infections.

At What Age do Kids Get Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth show up mainly between the ages of 17 and 25. But some kids may experience wisdom teeth pain early, and some may not know they have any third molars or not till they are 30. Therefore it’s crucial to visit your orthodontist for a wisdom teeth evaluation.

What is the Average Age for Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

You can take your teenage kids for wisdom teeth evaluation to the orthodontist between the ages of 16 to 19. If they become older with wisdom teeth, their roots will strengthen. While it’s not a dental emergency, it becomes complicated to remove wisdom teeth in later years.  Therefore, putting it off may cause problems.

Your child can benefit from less lengthy and uncomplicated wisdom tooth extraction if it’s done in their late adolescence. They will also experience a faster recovery from the wisdom teeth removal procedure.

Conclusion

Keep an eye on the symptoms of wisdom teeth eruption in your kids. Earlier sections explained how advantageous an earlier intervention could be for them. Moreover, wisdom tooth extraction is essential for their dental and overall wellbeing.

This procedure is not among the most complicated dental surgeries. An experienced dentist will suggest wisdom teeth removal only when necessary. Sedition is also offered to patients to minimize their anxiety regarding the pain. So there is no reason to hesitate in visiting your dentists for wisdom teeth removal for your kids.

Author Bio:  Dr. Anu Isaac, DMD, runs a successful dental practice in Salem, MA. Dr. Isaac strives for quality on a daily basis and this commitment to quality is reflected in her constant pursuit of advanced training. Her firm belief that even experts need to stay updated about what’s new in the dental field, enables her to provide every patient with optimal oral care. As the founder of Coral Dental Care, she is dedicated to creating healthy, beautiful smiles for her patients and also to educating dental and non-dental communities with her engaging articles on all things related to oral health, recent dental innovations, and latest treatment modalities.

Read about 7 ways to cope with braces as a teenager.