Why do we need to get our wisdom teeth pulled?

i don't even feel my wisdom teeth, and if they did come, i don't know what the harm would be to leave them as is. if we were born with them, why do most ppl have to get them pulled? i'm scared and have to get mine extracted this summer!

Why do we need to get our wisdom teeth pulled?
"Wisdom teeth" ideally should be removed unless it is clear that they will erupt completely and in line with their neighbors AND the person can reach them effectively with a toothbrush. 3rd molars can cause several issues that have been brought up by several answers. One is that if plaque remains on the tooth because its too far to reach, then it is at risk for dental caries (decay). A tooth that has erupted, but is severely tilted will often cause caries to form on the tooth in front of it as well as marked bone loss behind this same neighboring tooth. Wisdom teeth that are impacted (have not erupted and clearly have no intention of doing so) should be removed as they are a source of infection and again can affect the molars in front of them. These impacted 3rds often can lead to the crowding effect which can happen throughout the mouth. Partially impacted 3rds are often the worst. They can often cause a condition called pericornitis. This is usually cause by a foreign material ( popcorn etc. getting wedged between the gums and the erupting tooth, causing swelling and pain. Many of the conditions above can also cause inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) and loss of the bone surrounding the wisdom tooth and its neighbors (localized periodontitis). Periodontitis has been linked to problems relating to pregnancy, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer to name a few. Some people who have or are at risk for many different conditions - too many to list here - would be wise to minimize any source of periodontitis.





I have removed many fully erupted and partially impacted 3rd molars (I refer fully impacted one to an oral surgeon). In my experience the wisdom teeth that I deal with are usually easier to extract than most other teeth. The roots are usually smaller - more conical and fused. And although they are far in the back, extraction is usually easy (unless fully impacted of course). If you are seeing an oral surgeon or similar you will be likely be medicated and it will all be good. Dont listen to horror stories about lots of swelling and pain etc - everyone is differnt and most experiences are fine.





Well, I probably missed a thing or two in there since this was off the top of my head. From your question it sounds like your wisdom teeth are impacted and it has been determined that you don't have room for them. Most likely you should get them removed as your dentist knows what is best for your dental health. Good luck!!!
Reply:you dont have to remove them unless 1) you are in pain, or 2) your teeth are getti gcrowded and crooked. If none of this is your problem, there is no need to remove them. Im 27 and still have mine.
Reply:They're pulled because there isn't enough room in your mouth for four extra teeth. The wisdom teeth can become impacted and cause so much pain.





Don't be afraid to have them pulled. Just remember to put them under your pillow for the Tooth Fairy.
Reply:Yeah unless you are in pain, which comes from you not having enough room in your mouth for additional teeth or just dont have the room.
Reply:Wisdom teeth are (imho) an evolutionary defect. The reason a large amount of people need to have them removed is that the jaw does not have enough room to accommodate the extra teeth.
Reply:Only if they cause pain or cause damage to other teeth (you have to talk to a dentist).
Reply:well the thing is that when they grow fully they will interfer with your gums and probaly lead to a disease because it'll leave your gums in a bad state that's why,...it seems all perfect now but trust me it is good for that
Reply:I still have two in my mouth. My top two came out because one was bothering me alot and he wanted to take them out as a pair, or something like that. I occasionally will see a dentist who takes offense to the fact that I still have two in my mouth at age 38, and wants to remove them until he see the "roots like railroad spikes" in my mouth. If they ain't bothering me, noone else is going to bother them.





However, if you're in your teens/early 20s, and they're barely coming in, it would be advisable to get them out now before you're stuck with "railroad spikes" like mine, because if I ever need to get those out, I'm going to be in some serious pain. The top two came out fine..I was about 26. The worst of it was the Novocaine, seriously. I remember my mom getting hers out in her mid 30s. Not a pretty sight. she reacted to the pain meds, got an infection, and got sick from something else related to it. They had to cut to get hers out.
Reply:You don't have to get them pulled, some ppl get them pulled because they are very bothersome. I still have mine, they didnt even bother me when they came in. My dentist told me that I have to pay special attention to them when cleaning because they are so far back that ppl tend to neglect them when brushing and that leads to gum disease.
Reply:Most people do not have room for their wisdom teeth to come in. As a result, the incoming teeth pushes other teeth together or comes in the wrong way (impacted). You will need surgery to remove the teeth so your other teeth don't get messed up.





However, some people do not get any wisdom teeth, some people only get two out of the four. Usually you get it later in life too.





If you are not in pain and/or your teeth are not being crowded, I really wouldn't worry about it. You know when they are coming in because your mouth is sore and/or you get bad headaches.
Reply:You don't need to, but sometimes they come in and overcrowd your teeth. They can also make your teeth crooked and cause infection.
Reply:you don't "have" to have them taken out unless they're causing pain (or if your dentist is doing this to PREVENT pain).





I had to have all four of my wisdom teeth removed because my jaw was too small... and believe me, that is a H-E-L-L that I would NOT wish upon my WORST enemy! - because I waited too long because I was afraid of dental surgery... HA!!





If you're concerned about the possibility of surgery, talk more with your dentist and express your concerns... but if he doesn't think your jaw is big enough, PLEASE do yourself a favor and listen to him. Asking questions will alleviate most of your fears... and ANYONE who has been thru this will tell you it's FAR better to have them removed.





Good luck to you!
Reply:There are various reasons to have them removed; impacted or coming in sideways, non functional, not enough space in the arch, pericoronitis, orthodontics, causing crowding, very difficult to keep clean and even more difficult to work on. Some patients can keep them, although most eventually do have to have them removed due to decay or abscess because they are extremely difficult to keep clean due to their location and usually harbor bacteria under the tissue on the distal end. Also it is much easier to remove them in young patients before the root is completely formed. It is the smallest rooted tooth in your mouth, just the most difficult to get to for removal. Hope I've been of some help and good luck with your surgery!
Reply:There are a lot of reasons depending on your situation. Whether or not they cause crowding is still being debated. They don't really add much to function and are difficult to clean. They also can cause problems for the tooth next to it in terms of decay and periodontal (gum and bone) problems. Most dentists recommend taking them out to prevent such problems. It is a pretty routine procedure if you're relatively young. Late teens and early 20's are ideal because the roots aren't fully formed on those teeth making them easier to take out. Also, because you're younger, you'll heal a lot faster and have a better chance of bone filling in that area.
Reply:I just had mine done yesterday and it is not as bad as i thought. I have to have my bottoms taken out by an oral surgeon cause they are growing crooked. the best answer I can give is some people dont have enough space in their mouth to have them fit comfortably. My dentist said that because they were so far back a toothbrush couldnt clean them too well, meaning i dont have enough space for them. They numb you pretty well though, it didnt hurt when they were comming out.



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