When Is The Right Time for Your Kid to Go for Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Most people have impacted wisdom teeth. In other words, they don’t have the ability to flare up appropriately into the smile and get stuck in the bone and gum tissue surrounding it. Wisdom teeth extraction by an oral surgeon is recommended in these cases.

Preventive wisdom tooth removal is usually done by the time a patient reaches the age of 25. The procedure, however, doesn’t have to wait that long for an evaluation. Patients who are in their mid-teens or older may already be showing the signs of impacted wisdom teeth.

It is important to understand why wisdom teeth extraction may be necessary

Why do so many people have their wisdom teeth removed? Since it’s the most common reason for a dental patient to see an oral surgeon, it’s worth noting.

Modern humans’ narrow jaws do not have enough room for wisdom teeth to erupt properly, so they get stuck in the bone or gum tissue of their mouths. Many problems can arise as a result of wisdom teeth that have become impacted, such as:

• Infection
• Tumors
• Abscesses
• Cysts
• Damage to adjacent teeth
• Discomfort
• Misalignment of the smile

Wisdom Teeth Extraction should be done at the right time

As you can see, having your wisdom teeth removed by an oral surgeon is a compelling reason to avoid the negative consequences of impacted wisdom teeth. When wisdom teeth become infected, it is nearly impossible to predict when they will become symptomatic, so many patients opt for a preventative wisdom teeth removal. There are fewer complications and a shorter recovery time for younger patients who undergo the procedure.

Scheduling a Wisdom Teeth Exam for Your Child

However, getting rid of your wisdom teeth doesn’t have to wait until you’re about to turn 25. If wisdom teeth extraction is necessary, we recommend that your teen be evaluated by a dentist no later than the age of 16 or 17. Assess the probability of impaction and create a baseline for future comparisons by conducting an assessment at this time.

The roots of impacted teeth become longer and more firmly embedded in the jaw by the time you’re in your twenties. Because of this, we recommend that patients have their wisdom teeth extracted by the time they are 25 years old.

When a child reaches the legal driving age, he or she may be a candidate for wisdom teeth removal. Make an appointment for your child with Dr. Wooten at Oral and Facial Surgery of Oklahoma right away.

**Disclaimer: This site content is not intended to be medical advice nor establishes a doctor-patient relationship.