How Does Your Dentist Decide That You Need Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Wisdom teeth don’t always cause problems, so they may not need to be removed unless your dentist decides that extracting them is more beneficial than keeping them. However, dentists do not usually rush into removing these third molars and consider several factors to determine whether wisdom tooth removal is necessary. Be with us to get a better picture of how dentists typically decide if your wisdom teeth need to come out.

Signs Your Dentist Looks For

Your South Perth Dentist checks your mouth closely for a few signs before deciding if your wisdom teeth need to be removed:

Pain and Discomfort: Your dentist may ask you if you have pain at the back of your mouth, especially around your molars. Pain in those areas may be a sign that your wisdom teeth are causing trouble.

Swelling and Redness: If the gums around your wisdom teeth are red or swollen, it may be a sign of infection or inflammation.

Gum Disease: Because wisdom teeth may make oral hygiene a bit challenging, they may increase the risk of gum disease. Some warning signs your dentist may look for include bleeding gums, bad breath, and receding gums.

Crowding: Sometimes, there is not enough space in your mouth for the wisdom teeth to come out properly. This may push your other teeth out of alignment and lead to crowding or misalignment.

Difficulty Opening Your Mouth: If you have difficulty opening your mouth without pain, it may be because of impacted wisdom teeth.

Cysts or Tumours: Your dentist may also look for cysts or tumours around your wisdom teeth, which can cause damage to your jawbone and other teeth.

Repeated Infections: If you experience frequent infections around your wisdom teeth, they may need to be extracted to prevent ongoing problems.

Decay in Nearby Teeth: In some cases, your wisdom teeth may make it hard for you to clean the back of your mouth properly, which may lead to decay in the nearby teeth.

X-rays and Dental Exams

Your dentist will also use X-rays and dental exams to check the health and position of your wisdom teeth so that they can make a better decision about whether these teeth need to be removed:

Initial Examination: Dentists examine your gums and teeth carefully and check to see if there are any signs of swelling, redness, or misalignment.

Taking X-rays: Sometimes, dentists use X-rays so that they can see below the gum line and understand the position and condition of the teeth and bone. X-rays can help your dentist learn if your wisdom teeth are impacted or growing at an angle.

Evaluating Tooth Position: X-rays help dentists see how your wisdom teeth are positioned in relation to your other teeth. They can determine if there is enough space for the wisdom teeth to come in properly.

Checking for Damage: X-rays can show dentists if your wisdom teeth are causing damage to nearby teeth. They can show the dentist if there are any signs of cavities, decay, or infection in your wisdom teeth or the surrounding area.

Assessing Jaw Health: Your dentist uses X-rays to check the health of your jawbone. They look for any cysts, tumours, or other abnormalities that may be caused by impacted wisdom teeth.

Planning Treatment: Your dentist will decide what’s best for your specific case based on the X-rays and exam findings. They can decide whether your wisdom teeth need to be monitored, treated, or extracted.

Don’t miss our expert-written guide on wisdom teeth removal in Perth for all the key details.

Risk of Infection and Decay

If your wisdom teeth are impacted, they may cause several problems, particularly infection and decay. Wisdom teeth are located at the back of the mouth, so it can be hard to clean them properly with a toothbrush and floss, and this can make it easy for food and bacteria to get trapped around them. Trapped food and bacteria around wisdom teeth can lead to infections, abscesses, and gum disease, which can affect not only the wisdom teeth but also the surrounding gums and teeth.

Additionally, decay is more likely because these teeth are harder to clean, and cavities can spread to your neighbouring teeth. Infections like pericoronitis—an infection of the gum tissue around a partially erupted wisdom tooth—can cause pain, swelling, and difficulty swallowing, and if left untreated, can spread to other areas of your mouth and even the neck.

Severe, untreated infections can lead to abscess formation, which can damage nearby teeth and bone. This may cause the roots and structure of the neighbouring teeth to become weak.  

Evaluating Jaw Space

Your dentist needs to see if there’s enough room in your jaw for your wisdom teeth to emerge properly. Here’s how they do it:

Visual Examination: During a dental check-up, the dentist will visually inspect your mouth to see if there are signs of overcrowding or if your wisdom teeth are already partially erupted.

Dental X-rays: X-rays help your dentist see a clear picture of your jaw and teeth. X-rays show the position of your wisdom teeth and how they align with your other teeth, and help your dentist see if there’s enough space for the wisdom teeth to come in properly.

Panoramic X-rays: Panoramic X-rays can provide dentists with a broad view of your entire mouth, including the jawbone and all your teeth. These types of X-rays help your dentist determine if your wisdom teeth are impacted or growing at an angle.

Evaluating Bite and Alignment: Your dentist will check how your teeth fit together when you bite. If your teeth are misaligned, it might mean there’s not enough room for your wisdom teeth.

Growth and Development: For younger patients, dentists may check if the jaw will grow enough to make space for the wisdom teeth.

3D Imaging: In some cases, dentists use 3D imaging technology to get a detailed view of your jaw and teeth so that they can plan the best course of action for your wisdom teeth.

Pain and Discomfort

If your wisdom teeth are causing constant pain, your dentist might decide it’s better to remove them:

Location of Pain: Pain at the back of your mouth, especially around your wisdom teeth, can be a common sign of wisdom tooth problems. Your dentist will ask you to point out exactly where it hurts the most to see if your wisdom teeth are causing the issue.

Intensity of Pain: Your dentist will ask you how severe the pain is. If your wisdom teeth are causing mild pain, they may just need to be monitored. But if they’re causing intense pain and discomfort, your dentist may decide it’s best to remove them.

Type of Pain: Your dentist will ask if the pain is sharp, throbbing, or constant because different types of pain can mean different problems with your wisdom teeth.

Pain During Eating or Chewing: If you feel pain while eating or chewing, it might be because your wisdom teeth are pressing against other teeth or causing inflammation.

Gum Pain: Discomfort in your gums, especially if they are red, swollen, or bleeding, can be a sign of infection or gum disease around the wisdom teeth.

Headaches and Jaw Pain: Sometimes, wisdom teeth can cause jaw pain or headaches from the pressure they create. Your dentist will consider this when deciding if they need to come out.

Recurring Pain: If you experience pain frequently or it keeps coming back, it could be a sign that your wisdom teeth need attention and possibly removal.

Difficulty Opening Mouth: If you feel pain or have difficulty opening your mouth, it could be because your wisdom teeth are impacted and probably need to be extracted.

Infection Symptoms: If you have pain along with fever, bad breath, or a bad taste in your mouth, it may mean that there’s an infection going on. If your wisdom teeth are infected, they usually need to be extracted to stop the problem from getting worse.

Individual Patient Factors

Dentists will also consider factors like a person’s health history and other personal factors when deciding about extracting wisdom teeth:

Overall Health: Dentists will check your overall health conditions, like diabetes or heart disease, because some conditions may affect how well you heal after your wisdom tooth surgery. Your dentist will check your health to make sure it’s safe to do the procedure.

Medical History: Your dentist will go through your past medical and dental history, like previous surgeries, medications, or reactions to anaesthesia, so that they can plan a safe wisdom tooth removal.

Oral Hygiene: Good oral hygiene can reduce the risk of infection after surgery. If you have a history of poor oral hygiene, the dentist might recommend removal to prevent future problems.

Tooth Development: Your dentist will check how far your wisdom teeth have grown and their position. If your wisdom teeth are fully or partially impacted, they may require removal to prevent complications.

Expert Care for Wisdom Teeth Removal

Persistent pain, gum swelling, or repeated infections may indicate that your wisdom teeth need attention. Using detailed X-rays, our expert team determines whether extraction will be a suitable course of action for you. Book your consultation today on (08) 9474 5083.