Wisdom teeth are probably one of the most well-known molars in your mouth. Not just from your dentist suggesting at one of your visits that you will need to get your wisdom teeth removed, but also all over the internet. You can easily find plenty of viral funny teeth removal videos on Youtube and TikTok that showcase the patient’s aftermath of the procedure and their silly reactions to the anesthesia.
For the most part, folks are aware most dentists expect you to have them removed, but are there possible benefits to keeping them?
If you’re wondering if it’s essential to have them removed, consider a few of the benefits of keeping your wisdom teeth.
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Did you know that wisdom teeth used to be called “teeth of wisdom?” That term has been used since the conception of modern dentistry in the 17th century and well into the 19th century. Despite being shortened nowadays, it still refers to the last adult teeth to come into your mouth. Typically, this molar milestone occurs between the ages of 17 to 25, which develop into four wisdom teeth at the back of their mouth—two on top and the other two at the bottom.
Why Do They Get Removed?
There is a reason why wisdom teeth removal is a common oral procedure – they no longer serve us and can create potential dental problems and pain.
During the time of our ancestors, anthropologists had found that these particular molars were great for assisting in chewing coarse, rough, and hard food like nuts, roots, and meats. Yet, as humans evolved and modernized, wisdom teeth became obsolete since we now utilize utensils and eat softer food. If anything, wisdom teeth have shifted from useful to useless and are an oral health risk.
So, what exactly makes it necessary to remove them? Here are the following oral issues that they pose:
- Affects Gum Health – Since your wisdom teeth are at the back of your mouth, it’s harder to clean them properly, and they can become a breeding ground for bacteria and bad breath – yuck! As a result, your wisdom teeth can merge partially through the gums and end up causing oral infection as well as gum disease.
- Impacts the Jaw – Some wisdom teeth don’t normally merge, affecting your jaw by creating stiffness and pain that makes it hard to open and close your mouth. These can lead to infection or a cyst that can damage your adjacent teeth and your supporting jaw bone.
- Can Cause Crowding – Additionally, if your wisdom teeth have no room to grow properly, they can crowd and damage your other teeth nearby. Plus, it can result in your teeth not being straight.
- Unprecedented Pain – Pain can erupt from the back of your mouth due to bacteria being susceptible to irritating gum pockets, causing tooth decay and cavities. Yet, it can create sinus problems since issues with your mouth can impact that area.
Dentists want to prevent dental issues and improve your oral health, so it makes sense they would generally recommend folks to get this particular procedure done.
Can You Keep Your Wisdom Teeth?
Despite the overwhelming number of people getting their wisdom teeth removed, it’s not always necessary for everyone to get them removed if they’ve grown in fully and properly while maintaining daily dental hygiene.
In which case, what benefits do these particular folks have in keeping their wisdom teeth? Check out these benefits below:
- No Surgery Complications – Like with any routine surgery, complications can be possible after getting your wisdom teeth removed. It can result in excessive bleeding, lip numbness, pain and swelling, issues opening and closing your mouth, and a dry socket that results from a blood clot being dislodged and exposing the nerve under your gum to air or food debris.
- No Dental Costs – A visit to the dentist, much less a special procedure, can be expensive. You can expect wisdom tooth extraction to cost between $75 to $250 per tooth. If you need all four removed together, it can easily cost $600 to $1100. If you don’t need the procedure, it’s possibly worth saving your wallet on dental expenses.
For the most part, it’s highly recommended to extract your wisdom teeth. You can certainly get away with keeping them if they’ve formed well and save yourself potential surgery complications and expenses. Yet, the biggest issue is whether people can uphold oral hygiene since they’re in the back of the mouth, making it hard to brush properly. If anything, the few benefits of keeping your wisdom teeth aren’t enough. It’s not worth compromising your oral health and overall health as well. Removing your wisdom teeth is definitely in your best interest – plus, you can get a funny video out of it once the procedure is over and done!