It seems like having your wisdom teeth removed has become another rite of passage marking the transition between adolescence and adulthood. A significant number of patients undergo oral surgery for wisdom tooth extraction before they reach their mid-twenties.
The wisdom teeth are the largest teeth in the mouth, and most people’s jaws aren’t big enough to allow them to erupt properly. Consequently, the wisdom teeth become impacted, and when this happens, they may need to be removed by an oral surgeon.
There’s a reason why so many teenagers and young adults have their wisdom teeth removed. As patients get older, the wisdom teeth’s roots grow longer and more solidified in the jaw, which makes it more difficult to extract those teeth. Older patients also recuperate more slowly following the procedure. As a result, the general recommendation is for patients to have their wisdom teeth removed by age 25. [pullquote]The wisdom teeth are the largest teeth in the mouth, and most people’s jaws aren’t big enough to allow them to erupt properly. [/pullquote]
Patients may be tempted to postpone wisdom tooth extraction if they’re not experiencing symptoms, and there is certainly a chance that a patient’s wisdom teeth will never cause a problem even if they don’t erupt.
However, impacted wisdom teeth also have the potential to cause serious issues, and this is why many patients opt to have their wisdom teeth extracted as a proactive measure. The list of potential complications of impacted wisdom teeth includes cysts, tumors, abscesses and infections. The wisdom teeth can also cause discomfort and lead to misalignment in the other teeth as they continue to try to emerge.
While it is recommended that patients have their wisdom teeth removed before age 25, patients who are older than that can still undergo the extraction procedure. They should work with their oral surgeon to reduce their risk of complications and be prepared for a longer timeframe for healing.
Patients in their mid-teens can have their wisdom teeth removed, and we encourage those who have reached their mid-twenties and still have their wisdom teeth to consult with one of our oral surgeons to discuss extraction.