Summer Break Wisdom Teeth Removal

Chandler & San Tan Valley AZ

As COVID restrictions lift and teenagers return to in-person school and activities, our schedules seem to have gotten very busy.

Thankfully, summer is on the way.

Consider using the break this summer, while your child is out of school, to have their wisdom teeth removed.

Wondering why?

Why the rush?

Read on to discover why having your teen’s wisdom teeth removed even when they are not causing them issues is almost always the right thing to do.

Wisdom Teeth Removal as a Rite of Passage

You may have noticed that most children have their wisdom teeth removed during their high school and post high school/college years.

The third set of molars are called wisdom teeth because they usually come in during the teen years, as children are entering adulthood and becoming wiser. And if we remove them before the roots are fully established, the extraction process goes much smoother, and your child will face fewer complications in the future.

Why should my teen have their wisdom teeth removed?

The most common question around wisdom teeth removal is why they need to be removed when they feel fine.

Wisdom teeth, themselves, are not the problem.

It’s the damage they can cause to the rest of the mouth that is the real issue.

The longer a person waits, the greater the chances are for a more complicated removal. Studies show that the body will regenerate bone, decreasing the likelihood of severe bone loss, if the wisdom teeth are removed before the age of 26.

We are also wanting to prevent crowding and orthodontic treatment as well as preventing cysts and tumors.

Here are the top 5 reasons for the removal of painless and seemingly unnoticeable wisdom teeth:

Overcrowding and Misalignment

When wisdom teeth begin to erupt, we already have 28 teeth in our mouth, so there isn’t much room left for four more molars because our diets have become very refined and do not deveop the spacing for them.

As they push their way in, they tend to prevent neighboring teeth to erupt properly, and they crowd the mouth, pushing and misaligning other teeth.

Whether your child’s straight smile is due to years of orthodontic treatment or good genes, wisdom teeth can undo their perfect smile.

Gum Infection and Inflammation

When a tooth is partially impacted (a condition that occurs for most people in at least one tooth), it gets stuck in the gums, unable to fully erupt. This normally creates a gap between the

tooth and the gums, a place where bacteria like to set up camp and cause an infection. Other potential dangers include gum disease, inflammation, and tooth decay.

Poor Dental Hygiene

If your teen’s wisdom teeth have come in but their teeth still seem straight, they are undoubtedly tight, and their mouth is crowded, nonetheless.

This makes it extremely difficult for them to care for their teeth properly.

When teeth are too snug and space is at a minimum, flossing becomes nearly impossible. Teeth become prime targets for cavities and plaque buildup when they can’t be brushed adequately.

Tumors and Cysts

When wisdom teeth can’t fully erupt and they are impacted, they can cause tumors and cysts in your jawbone.

Those tumors and cysts can lead to joint pain which would require TMJ treatment, turning a relatively small procedure into a larger, more complicated series of treatments.

Damage to Neighboring Teeth

When wisdom teeth come in, they typically cause more harm to nearby teeth than simply invading their space. Up close and personal, they can contribute to decay and bone loss in the molars that are next to them.

Still not sure?

In addition to leading to serious complications and diseases, impacted wisdom teeth can lead to jaw pain and swelling, inflamed, bleeding, and irritated gums, bad breath, gum and bone loss, and damage to structure in your mouth.

We recommend calling a wisdom teeth expert like Dr. Shah today to discuss your teen’s situation.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. It’s always safer to be proactive rather than reactive. Take advantage of your child’s summer break, and call us, your wisdom teeth specialist, to schedule an evaluation today!