If you have more than one wisdom tooth, but only one tooth is causing pain or other symptoms, it is recommended to have all of your wisdom teeth taken out at the same time. Even if only one tooth is problematic, having all of your wisdom teeth removed will eliminate the risk of future wisdom tooth pain and protect your long-term oral health.
The average adult mouth does not have room for wisdom teeth, which is why they can cause so many complications as they try to squeeze into the dental arch. If you were to only have one wisdom tooth removed, it could only be a matter of time before another wisdom tooth starts causing pain or damaging adjacent teeth.
Wisdom teeth, or third molars, grow in the back of the mouth behind the second molars. These second molars grind and chew food, therefore an extra set of molars is not necessary for oral function. In addition to being unnecessary, wisdom teeth can cause serious dental issues if left untreated, such as:
Some people never develop any wisdom teeth, while others start developing these molars between the ages of 17 and 25. Typically, people have all four wisdom teeth. It is not uncommon, however, for someone to have less than four, or in rare cases, more than four.
During regular appointments, your general dentist takes X-rays of your mouth and will refer you to an oral surgeon if wisdom teeth are detected. It’s recommended to have wisdom teeth extracted as soon as possible, which is why many people undergo this procedure during their late teens or early twenties.
Wisdom teeth are easier to remove when they first develop and younger people tend to have faster recoveries. Adults who do not get their wisdom teeth taken out early can still undergo safe and effective wisdom teeth removal. At Hill & Ioppolo Oral & Dental Implant Surgery of Lubbock, we regularly extract wisdom teeth for patients of all ages, including teenagers and adults in their 30s, 40s, and beyond.
To schedule a consultation regarding your or your child’s wisdom teeth, contact our state-of-the-art practice in Lubbock, TX. Dr. Ioppolo is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and is ready to answer your questions and provide excellent care to you and your family.
