What happens if you wait too long to get your wisdom teeth taken out?

The extraction of the wisdom teeth often isn’t an emergency surgery, simply because dentists evaluate the course of their progression and can spot potential problems well in advance. However, if you delay getting them taken out, you could indeed develop serious complications. Pain, soreness, and pressure in the area are often the first signs that there is a problem.

Wisdom Tooth Impaction

People often wonder why humans have wisdom teeth if they have to be removed. If humans evolved with wisdom teeth, doesn’t that mean they should stay in? It’s an interesting question that points to the differences between ancient humans and modern ones. Early humans needed those extra molars to cope with their primitive diets. Modern humans don’t need wisdom teeth, thanks to cooking techniques and eating utensils. Some anthropologists think it’s possible that humans are in the midst of evolving in a way that eliminates the wisdom teeth, as some people are born without them. But until that change is complete, wisdom teeth often need to be extracted, and delaying their extraction can cause serious problems like impaction.

Wisdom tooth impaction occurs when there isn’t enough space for the teeth to erupt properly. As a result, they stay partially or completely beneath the gum line. Neither of these situations is ideal. If a wisdom tooth partially erupts, there will be a partially open gum flap. Food debris and bacteria can get trapped within that flap, leading to an infection. Tooth decay is also more likely to occur, as the tooth is exposed to oral bacteria.

Damage to Adjacent Teeth

Wisdom teeth often erupt abnormally, and sometimes, they press into the second molars. This can inflict damage on the adjacent molars. The adjacent teeth may also become misaligned, which affects the bite pattern. When the bite pattern becomes abnormal, excessive stress is exerted on the muscles and joints of the jaw. This malocclusion may require orthodontic treatment to correct.

Jaw Cysts

A sac surrounds the wisdom tooth inside the jaw bone. If the wisdom tooth isn’t extracted, this sac can become filled with fluid and form a cyst. Jaw cysts can be very painful. They can also cause damage to the jaw bone, teeth, and nearby nerves. Eventually, the bone around the cyst can be destroyed. In order to treat this complication, the oral surgeon may need to remove some tissue and bone.

Pericoronitis

Pericoronitis is another potential complication that can occur when the wisdom teeth aren’t extracted in a timely manner. It’s a disease of the gum tissue. The gum tissue around the area becomes infected and inflamed, causing pain and a bad taste in the mouth. Some people experience difficulty opening the mouth, along with swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

These complications can be quite severe, but you can avoid them by getting your wisdom teeth extracted promptly when your dentist recommends it.

Wisdom Tooth Extraction in Feasterville-Trevose, Newtown, and Jenkintown, PA

For over 50 years, Pennsylvanians have turned to the team at Innovative Oral Surgery & Dental Implants. Your health and safety are our top priorities during any oral surgery. When it’s time to get your wisdom teeth removed, you can trust the skill and experience of our highly trained oral surgeons. You can schedule a consultation in Feasterville-Trevose, Newtown, or Jenkintown, PA by calling our friendly office staff.

Additional Resources on Wisdom Teeth:

  1. American Dental Association, Wisdom Teeth, https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/w/wisdom-teeth
  2. Colgate, What Is a Wisdom Tooth? https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/conditions/wisdom-teeth/what-is-a-wisdom-tooth-0415

My dentist suggested I have my wisdom teeth removed, but they're not causing problems. Is wisdom teeth removal necessary?

Answer From Thomas J. Salinas, D.D.S.

Wisdom teeth — the third molars in the very back of your mouth — may not need to be removed if they are:

  • Healthy
  • Grown in completely (fully erupted)
  • Positioned correctly and biting properly with their opposing teeth
  • Able to be cleaned as part of daily hygiene practices

Many times, however, wisdom teeth don't have room to grow properly and can cause problems. Erupting wisdom teeth can grow at various angles in the jaw, sometimes even horizontally. Problems can include wisdom teeth that:

  • Remain completely hidden within the gums. If they aren't able to emerge normally, wisdom teeth become trapped (impacted) within your jaw. Sometimes this can result in infection or can cause a cyst that can damage other teeth roots or bone support.
  • Emerge partially through the gums. Because this area is hard to see and clean, wisdom teeth that partially emerge create a passageway that can become a magnet for bacteria that cause gum disease and oral infection.
  • Crowd nearby teeth. If wisdom teeth don't have enough room to come in properly, they may crowd or damage nearby teeth.

Some dentists recommend removing wisdom teeth if they don't fully emerge. Many dentists believe it's better to remove wisdom teeth at a younger age, before the roots and bone are fully formed, and when recovery is generally faster after surgery. This is why some young adults have their wisdom teeth pulled before the teeth cause problems.

According to the American Dental Association, wisdom teeth removal may be necessary if you experience changes in the area of those teeth, such as:

  • Pain
  • Repeated infection of soft tissue behind the lower last tooth
  • Fluid-filled sacs (cysts)
  • Tumors
  • Damage to nearby teeth
  • Gum disease
  • Extensive tooth decay

The decision to remove wisdom teeth isn't always clear. Talk to your dentist or an oral surgeon about the position and health of your wisdom teeth and what's best for your situation.

With

Thomas J. Salinas, D.D.S.

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Dec. 03, 2016

  1. Wisdom teeth. American Dental Association. http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/w/wisdom-teeth. Accessed Nov. 2, 2016.
  2. Wisdom teeth management. American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. http://myoms.org/procedures/wisdom-teeth-management. Accessed Nov. 2, 2016.
  3. The management of impacted third molar teeth. American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. http://www.aaoms.org/images/uploads/pdfs/impacted_third_molars.pdf. Accessed Nov. 2, 2016.
  4. Ghaeminia H, et al. Surgical removal versus retention for the management of asymptomatic disease-free impacted wisdom teeth (review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003879.pub4/full. Accessed Nov. 2, 2016.
  5. Renton T, et al. Problems with erupting wisdom teeth: Signs, symptoms, and management. British Journal of General Practice. 2016;66:e606.
  6. Salinas TJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 19, 2016.

See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. Headache
  2. Impacted wisdom teeth
  3. Integrative approaches to treating pain
  4. Nutrition and pain
  5. Pain rehabilitation
  6. Self-care approaches to treating pain
  7. X-ray

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How long can you keep wisdom teeth in?

There are a few important reasons wisdom teeth should be removed as soon as possible. This is because the patient's age affects both the size and position of the wisdom tooth and the body's ability to heal. Teeth develop from the biting surface down to the tip of the root. This process takes anywhere from 6 to 9 years.

How long can you go with infected wisdom teeth?

As a rule, chronic symptoms only last for one or two days but can recur over a period of several months. On the contrary, acute symptoms can last for three or four days and may include: Swelling on the affected side of the face. Pain when swallowing.