When Does a Wisdom Tooth Need to Be Extracted?

Find out the best time to have your teen’s wisdom teeth removed.

One of the most common questions that dentists hear from their teen patients is, “Do I need to have my wisdom teeth removed?” It’s a fair question because many people don’t realize why they can’t just keep their third set of molars. Read on to learn why wisdom teeth more often than not necessitate removal, and contact Ajax Dental Centre in Ajax, ON, if you need to make an appointment with your dentists, Dr. Saeid Jafarpour, Dr. Kevin Kwong, and Dr. Azza Elhaddad.

When is the best time for a wisdom tooth consultation?

Wisdom teeth usually emerge between the ages of 17-25; therefore, it’s a good idea to bring your teen in for a consultation around 17-19 years old. A simple x-ray can show our family dentists how the wisdom teeth are developing and whether they might be prone to impaction (this is when the teeth don’t fully emerge through the gums).

Impacted wisdom teeth are a problem as they can lead to pain, infection, dental injury, and other long-term problems. Our goal is to avoid these issues by removing wisdom teeth before they can pose a concern to your oral health. Of course, if your wisdom teeth do come in healthy and don’t cause problems, then there is no reason to remove them.

If your dentist tells you that your wisdom teeth need to be removed, the sooner you undergo a wisdom tooth extraction the better, as it’s easier to extract them when the roots and bones have fully formed. Plus, younger patients tend to heal faster, making the post-surgical recovery time easier.

How are wisdom teeth removed?

If teeth have fully erupted then they can be removed through a simple extraction without having to undergo surgery; however, impacted wisdom teeth will require minor surgery, though this only takes a couple of minutes to complete. More complicated cases can take up to 20 minutes to complete.

We know that patients may be a little concerned about having to undergo surgery for their wisdom teeth removal, but don’t worry; the dentists here at our Ajax, ON, office have you covered. Our dental team offers several solutions to make sure that you don’t feel discomfort during the extraction process. Some of these options include conscious sedation administered through an IV, as well as local anesthesia to numb the treatment area. Conversely, you may choose to undergo local anesthesia along with nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”). During your consultation, we will be happy to discuss these options with you.

Contact Us

By keeping up with routine checkups, you can ensure that your teen gets the proper care they need right away to remove impacted wisdom teeth before they cause problems. If you want to schedule a consultation with Ajax Dental Centre, call us today at (905) 426-8304.

Office Hours

Monday:

10:00 am-7:00 pm

Tuesday:

10:00 am-7:00 pm

Wednesday:

10:00 am-7:00 pm

Thursday:

10:00 am-7:00 pm

Friday:

Closed

Saturday:

9:00 am-3:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed