Not everyone needs to have their wisdom teeth removed. Some are born without them at all. However, in most cases, it is necessary to remove the wisdom teeth immediately. We will briefly explain why it is necessary to remove wisdom teeth, when is the best time to do it and what consequences can result from delaying the removal of irregularly growing wisdom teeth for too long.
Why do I need to have my wisdom teeth removed?
The main cause of problems with wisdom teeth is the lack of space for growth. Most people’s jaws simply don’t have enough room for all 32 teeth.
As there is usually not enough room for the wisdom teeth to emerge straight and regular, they emerge crooked or incomplete. Crooked teeth damage the enamel of the surrounding teeth and the irregular position makes it difficult to clean the inter-dental cavity properly. Incompletely erupted wisdom teeth can be partially ‘overgrown’ by gum tissue, which can also accumulate bacteria.
Why don’t we have enough room for wisdom teeth?
Human jaws today are much smaller than those of our prehistoric ancestors. The reason for this is not just evolution. The size of the jaw is directly dependent on vitamin K2, which is responsible for the absorption of calcium in the jaw. This vitamin is found in organ meats and liver, foods that are rarely consumed these days. Vitamin K2 can also be found in the meat products of animals that eat grass (rather than cereals).
The popularity of low-fat diets has made it extremely difficult to obtain this vitamin from foods. As a result, an underdeveloped jaw is the norm today.
Will you need to have your wisdom teeth removed
A simple way to check if you have enough space in your jaw for a wisdom tooth: try to feel with your finger if there is enough “flat” space for a mental tooth behind the last tooth, or if the jaw is starting to rise upwards at that point. If there seems to be enough space, there is a good chance that the wisdom tooth will emerge correctly. Of course, this is only a guess – you should consult a dental surgeon for an accurate assessment.
Whether or not you will need to have your wisdom teeth removed also depends on your diet during childhood. If you consumed a lot of nutritious meat products when you were young, chances are that your jaw will be fully developed and you won’t need to pull teeth. Different dairy products adapted for children also encourage the full development of the chin.
When is the best time to remove my wisdom teeth?
There are two factors to consider when choosing a date for your wisdom teeth removal surgery.
First of all, we advise you not to delay. It is easiest to remove teeth when their roots are not yet fully formed. Once the wisdom teeth are fully formed, the procedure becomes more complicated and the recovery time after surgery is longer.
Secondly, we advise you to schedule your wisdom tooth extraction when you are least stressed and when there are no major events in the near future. In our experience, problems with wisdom teeth tend to occur before exams, job interviews and weddings – when you least expect it.
Summary
So, while not everyone’s jaw will have enough room for wisdom teeth, the chances of this happening are high. As it is easiest to remove mental teeth before they are fully formed, we advise you not to wait and to plan the procedure as early as possible. If you are not sure whether you will need to have your wisdom teeth removed, do not hesitate to schedule a consultation with one of the CLINIC | DPC specialists!
