Wisdom Teeth Series: Dangers of Prevention and Non-Prevention

Posted in Dental Insurance , Health Insurance

October 2nd, 2009

A person who has yet to have his or her wisdom teeth removed may be wondering whether they need to have them removed at all. They may not be causing any problems at the moment, or, when a cost-benefit analysis has been done, the dangers of wisdom teeth removal may be great enough that leaving them in makes more sense. Adding to the confusion is that some dentists will not advocate the removal of a wisdom tooth if it does not appear to be causing any problems. The decision is an important one, and needs to be taken very seriously, including the financial impact and how much dental health insurance coverage you have.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth that are impacted should almost always come out. Some, known as mesioangular impactions, come in at an angle that’s going to be bad for nearby teeth. Others, known as partial eruptions, are semi-submerged below the gum line and can lead to gum infections. Still others, called horizontal impactions, are on a direct collision course with the next tooth over, and will continue to press ahead into the normal tooth’s roots. The bottom line is that wisdom teeth are rogue teeth, and as they grow in they will push other teeth forward, causing unsightliness as well as serious dental problems. Due to the common occurrences of the aforementioned circumstances, having wisdom teeth removed is not really a choice for some people.

Complications with Extractions

Some people worry about complications from wisdom tooth extraction, such as infection, or permanent nerve damage. Additionally, some dentists feel that if a wisdom tooth isn’t bothersome, and shows no signs of crowding out the other teeth, then it’s fine to leave them in. If you decide on leaving your wisdom teeth alone, it’s important to remember that wisdom teeth can change their “behavior,” and the tooth that’s not bothering its neighbors today can start pushing at them aggressively next year. All decisions regarding your wisdom teeth, whether it’s removing them at once or taking a wait-and-see attitude, should be made in close consultation with your dentist.