What happens if I don’t get my wisdom teeth out?
“What if you just leave your wisdom teeth in?”
Every year, 5 million Americans get their wisdom teeth removed. But is it worth it? What would happen if you just left your wisdom teeth in? How bad could it be?
According to a 2024 survey, 53% of Americans have undergone wisdom teeth removal. However, only around 26% of those aged 18 to 29 have undergone wisdom teeth removal. This lower prevalence among younger adults reflects a very human characteristic: procrastination.
If you’re wisdom teeth aren’t hurting, why undergo wisdom teeth extraction and subject yourself to unnecessary pain?
Well, right now, your wisdom teeth are asymptomatic, meaning they are not causing any noticeable symptoms. However, wisdom teeth are uniquely troublesome. The reason most orthodontists recommend wisdom teeth removal is that, even if they are disease-free now, there is a high probability they will develop a problem over time.
So what are the risks of leaving your wisdom teeth in?
There are three major possibilities.
- Your wisdom teeth do not erupt from your gums (impacted).
No problem, right? Wrong! If they don’t erupt, they can cause cysts or neoplasms. A dental cyst is a sac-like structure that is filled with liquid material. They often form around the roots of the tooth, near where it connects to the bone. It’s basically an internal blister that can cause pain and pressure.
A neoplasm is an excessive growth of tissue. Essentially, your gums feel something pushing against them, so they produce more gum tissue to compensate.
Secondly, the direction of impaction matters. They might push against the other teeth or even against your bones.
- Your wisdom teeth only partly erupt.
If they are partially erupted, then that means they are exposed to oral bacteria. Since part of that tooth is still in the gums, the oral bacteria can spread to the inside of your gums. Once bacteria are inside, the problems are much harder to fix. They can cause infection, gum disease, or even tooth decay, which can lead to significant pain.
- Your wisdom teeth fully erupt.
Again, they are likely to come in crooked, like most adult teeth. They can push on the surrounding teeth, causing pain. Because they are so far back, they can be difficult to clean, leading to bad breath, cavities, tooth decay, etc.
In conclusion, orthodontists generally recommend removing wisdom teeth because they carry a significant risk.
It is your choice. However, the longer they are in your mouth, the more likely they are to develop complications. So make an informed decision by understanding the risks. If you, or someone you know, is putting off their wisdom teeth removal, share this.
