A lot of times, when people are in their early twenties or late teens, they go to the dentist for wisdom teeth extraction. However, this isn’t something that everyone has to have done. Even though dentists have different opinions regarding whether it’s necessary to have this done, if you’re thinking it’s a good idea to have yours removed, you should talk to your dentist.

Even though oral surgery sounds scary, when you have them removed it can be often better in the long run than leaving them in because they can cause pain down the road.

But a lot of people don’t have any problems when their wisdom teeth come through, and therefore, they won’t need to have the procedure done. Even with this knowledge, a lot of professionals make the recommendation that they have them removed anyway.

Signs that you might need your wisdom teeth removed:

They’re not fitting properly – Most people have room for approximately 28 teeth, and that’s the number you’ll have before the eruption of your wisdom teeth. With the addition of four more teeth, you now have 32 teeth and they’re fitting into a space that fits just 28 teeth. When your jaw isn’t big enough, those teeth can be impacted and they don’t erupt fully or they are misaligned. If this happens, having them pulled will make sure that your other teeth have enough room.

· You are having gum pain all the time near the wisdom teeth – The pain you are experiencing might mean you have an infection which could be happening from wisdom teeth that have been partially erupted. When bacteria and food are trapped inside these areas, it can cause a really painful infection called pericoronitis. When you have those teeth pulled, it can prevent any further infection.

They’re coming in crooked – If your teeth fully come in but they’re coming in sideways, your teeth might move and shift as time goes by. There’s also a possibility that crooked teeth can harm your nearby teeth. After you’ve had the teeth pulled, you’ll have your other teeth protected.

There’s a cyst around the tooth – This will happen when the sac beside the tooth fills with fluid. Anytime this happens, it may destroy any surrounding structures like tooth roots or bone. In really rare cases, untreated cysts can result in tumors that may require surgical procedures that are more serious.

If you decide to have them extracted, you want to know what you can expect during the procedure. Speak with your oral surgeon or dentist to make certain you’re understanding the whole procedure and the care recommendations for after the surgery.

Questions to ask prior to extraction:

How many will you remove? Some dentists will remove all of the teeth, some just take a couple.

What kind of anesthesia are you going to use? Usually, you are going to undergo general or local anesthesia so that you don’t feel discomfort during the surgery. If you have general anesthesia, you’ll need someone to drive you home since you won’t be able to drive.

How long is it going to take? This is going to depend on how many they are removing and their condition, but it can be anywhere from 1 to 3 hours.

Are there any instructions I need to follow before the surgery? Your surgeon may want you to take or avoid some medicines before your surgery based on your health.

This guide should let you know some of the things that you can expect and some of the reasons why you might want to have your wisdom teeth removed. Know that not everyone needs to have their teeth removed and it’s not a bygone conclusion that you’ll need to have it done. Speak with your dentist and decide what is best for you.