When should your wisdom teeth be removed?

When should the wisdom teeth removed? Very often, the teeth may be misaligned either in a horizontal position, be angled towards or away from the second molars or angled inward or outward. Also, the poor alignment can crowd or damage adjacent teeth, the jawbone or nerves. At times, the wisdom teeth can be impacted which means that they are enclosed within the soft tissue and /or the jawbone or partially erupt through the gums. This can cause an infection due to bacteria entering the tooth leading to pain, swelling and stiffness of the jaw. Also, the teeth are more prone to gum disease, cavity and tooth decay.
The third and final set of molars that you get in your late teens or early twenties is known as wisdom teeth. There are four wisdom teeth in the back of the mouth – top and bottom.
Your dentist will take an x-ray to determine the position of the teeth in the jawbone and determine their removal based on the following:
Post-operative care is very important to ensure that you follow the instructions carefully so as to prevent infection.
It will take time for the mouth to heal completely. Until then, follow your doctor’s instructions.