When to Remove Wisdom Teeth

Although most people seem to need their wisdom teeth removed, it’s not always necessary. It’s important to remember that removing wisdom teeth is not always recommended. However, there are many reasons why you might want your wisdom teeth removed, such as:

  • They cause crowding and orthodontic problems

  • They cause pain

  • They have become infected

  • They are hard to clean

  • They are impacted (stuck) and can’t fully emerge

Often, your dentist can tell your wisdom teeth will cause problems before they happen. It’s best to listen to your dentist in this case to avoid more trouble later on.

Getting Your Teeth Checked

You should be visiting the dentist at least once a year from the age of two, and by the time you’re a teen, you should have visits to the dentist twice a year just like an adult. During your regular visits, your dentist will check on the state of your wisdom teeth and look at them for any problems.

At about age 16-19 is when your dentist can usually tell if there will be problems with your wisdom teeth. Some people may have obvious signs of trouble earlier than this, while others may not see any problems through their 20s. People who experience no problems with wisdom teeth by the age of 30 may be able to keep them for life.

You may have all four wisdom teeth removed at once, or just some of them. Sometimes wisdom teeth left in today may have to be removed at a later date.

Some dentists may recommend removing your wisdom teeth before the age of 20 to make it easier, but in reality they can be removed at any age.

If you are experiencing problems with your wisdom teeth and want to talk about having them extracted, please contact Ascent Dental in Denver, Colorado today for an appointment.