Wisdom teeth are most widely recognized for the trouble that they cause. Despite their seemingly harmless name, wisdom teeth (more formally known as third molars) often have trouble developing and erupting properly. They can cause a host of problems such as intense discomfort, damage to other teeth, forced tooth misalignment, and extensive damage to your gums and jawbone. For patients in North Hollywood, CA, wisdom tooth extraction is an important and common procedure that involves removing troublesome third molars to stop them from causing more damage to your smile.

What are wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the unofficial name for your third set of molars – a set of teeth that experts say we don’t really need anymore. Our ancestors, who had larger jawbones and dental ridges, used the extra biting and chewing power to survive off of raw vegetation and less tender meat. Now, however, our diets are kinder and our oral structures have adapted, which leaves little room on your dental ridge for the wisdom teeth to grow in.

Why are they so problematic?

The minimal space they have to grow and develop is the reason why wisdom teeth become so problematic. Your second set of molars that are already at the ends of your dental ridges can interrupt your wisdom teeth’s growth, which causes your third molars to become impacted. Your wisdom teeth will continue to grow against those teeth, causing increasingly dental health issues.

Should all wisdom teeth come out?

Most patients opt to have their wisdom teeth extracted because of the problems they cause. However, some patients choose to extract theirs before the extra molars start to cause problems. Fortunately, you don’t need your wisdom teeth too bite and chew your properly anymore. Therefore, extracting them won’t have any negative impact on your long-term oral health or bite function and you won’t have to replace them after extraction.

Find Out if You Should Extract Your Wisdom Teeth

The most important thing to remember about wisdom teeth is that extracting them could be the best thing you do for your long-term oral health. For more information, schedule a consultation by calling Modern Smile in North Hollywood, CA, today at 818-763-9353. We also proudly serve patients who live in Burbank, Toluca Lake, and all surrounding communities.