Getting your wisdom teeth removed is a very common procedure that millions of people get done every day. It’s a pretty routine procedure that most oral surgeons recommend despite the patient not having any pain or symptoms of their impacted tooth. Dentists recommending the extraction of an asymptomatic wisdom tooth is the very reason why lots of patients question whether or not they should even get it done in the first place, actually.
In the world of medicine, there are patients who have the mindset of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” but those types of patients run rampant in the world of dentistry, especially when it comes to getting impacted wisdom teeth removed. There has been speculation about whether or not wisdom teeth removal was necessary or not. Dentists know that it is necessary but it’s the patients who need convincing.
They feel that dentists are just “out to get their money” when that’s not the case at all. 99.9% of the time, dentists genuinely have your dental health at heart and want to do all that they can to make sure your mouth is in the best health possible. Wisdom teeth can cause all kinds of oral health problems… for starters, impacted wisdom teeth are very susceptible to infection and tooth decay. Not getting them removed can cause overcrowding, which can damage the other teeth in the jaw bone.
Patients think that just because the impacted tooth isn’t bothering them right now that it won’t bother them at all. That’s where they go wrong. The majority of the times, an impacted tooth may not cause any harm to a patient right then but time goes by, that patient is going to experience some sort of pain from that tooth and will eventually need to get it removed. The thing that patients need to fully understand is prevention.
Prevention is Key
The information dentists give patients is very important and it’s important that they give their patients correct information too. So when dentists tell patients that extraction isn’t necessary unless they’re experiencing extreme pain, it has to make the patient wonder why should they have to wait until they experience extreme pain to get it done. Why can’t they take preventative measures now to remove the tooth before the pain begins? The truth is, they can and prevention is the key component to good oral health.
Now, most dentists are very pro wisdom teeth removal but they can tell you all the good things about it without telling you the potential risks involved as well. If you’re considering getting your wisdom teeth removed, Take a look at the pros and cons of the procedure. After reading this list, you’ll be better equipped to make the right decision on what you want to do.
Pro: Your Risk of Crowding Teeth is Reduced
It’s pretty obvious that wisdom teeth can’t always “get in where they need to fit” so because of that, it causes crowding in your jaw bone. According to crest.com, wisdom teeth grow in misaligned and even sideways… this causes misalignment of the adjacent teeth. By having those impacted teeth removed, you’re preventing tooth decay and allowing your current teeth to stay in alignment.
Con: You’re at Risk of Surgical Complications
Ok, so this is indeed a real risk but in the same token, aren’t you at risk for surgical complications for any type of surgery? Of course. Being at risk for surgical complications is something that your dentist legally has to tell you. The biggest surgical complication is infection… as are the risks of all surgical complications.
Pro: You Won’t Have to Deal With the Pain of an Impacted Tooth
Whether you have symptoms of an impacted tooth or not, you must know that it can be extremely painful the longer it’s not treated. If you’re not experiencing pain from your impacted tooth, give it some time… it will come but again, prevention is key.
Con: The Procedure Will Require Anesthesia
Anesthesia is an agent that will make you fall asleep before the procedure begins so that you won’t be awake or experience any pain during the surgery. This is a huge fear for some people because they’re afraid that they might not wake back up after surgery. So if you have a fear of anesthesia, you may want to think long and hard about ANY major surgeries, whether it’s for tooth extraction or not.
As Mentioned Earlier…
Prevention is key. Impacted teeth can lead to more serious infections and diseases of the mouth that can cost you more money in the long run so preventing those infections from forming before they have the opportunity to is a step in the right direction to good oral health. Be sure to talk to your dentist about any concerns you may have about the procedure.
