Why not keep wisdom teeth?!
Question: I've seen people say that you can't use them. Why not? As long as they are all there and not impacted then they meet like the other teeth.
Also what if in the future you need the molar next to the wisdom tooth bridged. Wouldn't it be useful to have the wisdom tooth? That way you would have a tooth on either side for the bridge.
I just don't get why you would take out normal wisdom teeth.
Answers: I've seen people say that you can't use them. Why not? As long as they are all there and not impacted then they meet like the other teeth.
Also what if in the future you need the molar next to the wisdom tooth bridged. Wouldn't it be useful to have the wisdom tooth? That way you would have a tooth on either side for the bridge.
I just don't get why you would take out normal wisdom teeth.
For the unethical dentist, the removal of wisdom teeth is merely a financial winfall for the dentist. A visual exam combined with dental x-rays are required to determine the true position or alignment of wisdom teeth as well as the anatomical features of their roots.
That said, if the wisdom teeth are NOT growing in straight then it is extremely probable that they will either decay because they are difficult to clean thoroughly, OR, the gum and bone tissue around them will get infected, again because they are so difficult to keep adequately clean.
When a wisdom tooth is PARTIALLY erupted, the gum tissue surrounding it is often very loosely attached around the circumferance of the tooth. This allows food and bacterial plaque to build up under the gum. This will result in a periodontal infection and probable decay.
When the gum tissue gets really inflamed and infected, it is known an pericoronitis and it is quite painful.
If a wisdom tooth is impacted (stuck below the gum), occasionally it leans on the roots of the tooth in front causing the roots of the tooth in front to RESORB. The roots literally disolve and are absorbed by your body. This necessitates the removal of both the wisdom tooth AND the tooth in front of it.
If there is periodontal disease around a wisdom tooth, it compromises the integrity of the bone between it and the molar in front of it. This can cause you to lose BOTH of the teeth instead of just the wisdom tooth.
Wisdom teeth are often removed when you are reasonably young because a developmental sac remains around the wisdom tooth making the removal of the tooth fairly simple. Over the years, the sac disappears and thus the extraction is more traumatic. Additionally, over time, the roots of the wisdom teeth can FUSE to the bone socket, again, making for a very difficult extraction.
Finally, if the wisdom teeth are straight, fully erupted, brushed well and flossed daily, there is absolutely NO REASON to remove them. You are quite right, a good wisdom tooth CAN support a bridge should the molar next to it be removed.
If you do not trust your dentist you are in a tough spot. Perhaps you should find one you trust and can have meaningful discussions with.
Not everyone needs their wisdom teeth removed. I have all four of mine as do 2/3 of my siblings. I guess I am lucky mine are straight and functional.
I'm going to try to explain this as well as possible.... I had wisdom teeth that we're NOT impacted and they were growing in okay... the reason my dentist took them out is because he claimed that because the gum on the back of my tooth covered some of my tooth still (unlike a normal tooth where the gum comes pretty far down); the gum on my tooth would cause bacteria to grow because it would be extremely difficult to almost impossible to brush and/ or floss properly. i had my wisdom teeth removed two at a time (one side at a time) and they just used Novocaine and it wasn't bad at all!
Keep them by all means if they are not a probem. They are functional in many mouthes!! Doc W