Extracting Wisdom Teeth

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Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth?

An average adult mouth is designed to hold around 28 teeth comfortably, but most adults end up with 32 teeth. These additional four teeth are called wisdom teeth or third molars. There are competing theories about why we grow teeth that won’t fit in our jaws, but the prevailing one is the Soft Foods Theory, which suggests that the soft, processed foods we eat today don’t stimulate enough jaw growth to accommodate third molars. Because of this, the wisdom teeth often become blocked or impacted by the other teeth around them. If the wisdom tooth partially erupts, food can get trapped in the tissue surrounding the tooth, which can lead to bacterial growth and possibly serious infection.

Why Remove Wisdom Teeth As a Young Adult?

By removing wisdom teeth when a patient is a young adult, Dr. Young can prevent potential healing problems. When a person reaches the age of their mid-thirties, there are much higher risks for wisdom teeth removal. The best time to remove wisdom teeth is generally between the ages of fifteen to eighteen years of age.

If you are an adult and need to remove your wisdom teeth, don’t worry. Here at Barbara Young, DDS, we take extra care to make sure that our adult patients are comfortable and anxiety-free. After a consultation, we will recommend that you continue with your wisdom teeth until intervention is absolutely necessary. When it is necessary to remove your wisdom teeth, Dr. Young will recommend a simple and pain-free surgery. Your health is our highest concern.

We see patients remove wisdom teeth on a regular basis. This is a common procedure at Barbara Young, DDS. If you are interested in having a consultation please give us a call at (858) 273-7777 or email us.