If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort due to impacted wisdom teeth, then the immediate benefits of  wisdom teeth removal are clear. For anyone who may not be experiencing discomfort but has been told by a dentist that you should consider having some or all of your wisdom teeth extracted, you may be more curious about the long-term benefits of removal. Extracting wisdom teeth thankfully has both short-term and long-term benefits for dental patients who require it. For  Chicago residents looking for dental treatment in Bucktown, Wicker Park, Logan Square or Humboldt Park,  NK Family Dental is here for your needs — including wisdom teeth removal.

Keep reading to learn what your dentist will look for to determine if you need your wisdom teeth removed, the reasons for and the benefits of wisdom teeth removal, and about any potential risks from the procedure.

It’s important to first know the signs of wisdom teeth complications for patients and dentists alike. Aside from  pain or pressure in your jaw or in the back of your mouth, there are many other signs your dentist will look for or ask you about to determine if your wisdom teeth will cause long-term problems if not removed. Pain or discomfort doesn’t occur in every person who faces wisdom teeth problems, after all!

 Mouth Healthy from the  American Dental Association lists some of the following wisdom teeth complication signs your dentist will look for:

Aside from checking for these signs, your dentist will also likely ask you to describe any pain, pressure or discomfort you may be feeling near the back of your jaw. If there are enough signs pointing to needing wisdom teeth removal, your dentist will also likely take dental X-rays to get a clear look at the position of your wisdom teeth. This will allow your dentist to see any potential or current damage from your wisdom teeth to your other teeth or jaw. From there, your dentist will advise a treatment plan, which may include seeing an oral surgeon if your dentist does not perform extractions for impacted wisdom teeth.

Regardless if you feel like they are causing an issue or not, wisdom teeth removal is necessary for many people for their long-term oral health. 

Some important  reasons to get your wisdom teeth removed include:

Simply put, the benefits are clear. In the long-term, wisdom teeth removal, when necessary, can maintain and improve your oral health by decreasing the risk of pain, infection, tooth damage, crowding of the teeth, the undoing of any previous dental work, developing dental cysts or tumors, and gum disease — as well as by making it easier to keep up thorough oral hygiene.

If your dentist recommends having your wisdom teeth extracted, it’s best to consider removal as soon as possible. The longer you wait to get your wisdom teeth out, the greater these dental and oral risks become. Your mouth will thank you later!

Of course, it’s always important to weigh the risks and benefits of any medical and dental procedure before making any final decisions about treatment. The benefits of wisdom teeth removal are clear, but are there any risks? Wisdom teeth removal is still a form of oral surgery, after all.

In regards to  wisdom teeth extraction , the  Mayo Clinic states that “most wisdom tooth extractions don’t result in long-term complications.”

While complications are rare and minimal, a few potential risks to note are:

For more information on the wisdom teeth removal process, see our previous blog post, “  Wisdom Teeth Removal: When You Need It and How to Prepare .”

If you’re experiencing oral pain or discomfort and suspect it might be due to your wisdom teeth, don’t wait a second longer to see a dentist. Earlier treatment means earlier and long-term relief. Looking for a dentist near Bucktown, Wicker Park, Logan Square or Humboldt Park in  Chicago ?  24/7 Local Dentist offers safe  oral surgery treatments, including wisdom teeth removal, for eligible patients.