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4 reasons why not to delay wisdom teeth removal

Wisdom teeth removal xray: arrows point to wisdom teeth extraction areas, procedure is recommended at a younger age

This x-ray is a great visual example of how wisdom teeth can wreak havoc on the health of your jaw, gums and molars.

That tension you are feeling in your jaw or head might not be caused by the stress of work, sports, term papers or exams. Most likely it is your wisdom teeth talking to you. These forgotten milestones usually make themselves known between the ages of 17 – 25, and if not dealt with, can cause all sorts of trouble in the future.

Here are 4 reasons why not to delay wisdom teeth removal:

1. Wisdom teeth can promote Gum Disease.

Impacted wisdom teeth often pressure the 3rd molar area, making a difficult area to clean even more problematic. Bacteria can easily form and promote various forms of infection.

2. The formation of cysts or tumours.

If wisdom teeth are not dealt with in a timely manner, cysts filled with fluid, or in a very small number of cases, a tumour may develop around the untreated wisdom tooth and cause damage to the jaw.

3. Damage to neighbouring teeth.

Along with presence of jaw pain, bacterial infection and swelling, impacted wisdom teeth can cause cavities in neighbouring molars.

4. Risks of leaving wisdom teeth removal at a later age.

Wisdom teeth removal later in life can come with increased risk of irritation or damage to the mandibular nerve. Patients who have had nerve damage often experience numbness or a tingling sensation on one side of their face 2 – 3 weeks after the surgical procedure. Usually things return to normal, however, if tooth extraction process was complicated, sensation may never return to normal. Our biggest recommendation is if you are experience discomfort in your mouth, especially in the back, don’t leave things unchecked.

Wisdom teeth removal is a common procedure that we perform on patients of all ages and we encourage everyone to deal with them sooner rather than later. Call our Point Grey dental clinic at 604.222.8430 if you sense your wisdom teeth are a lot of disruption in the back of your mouth.