What Happens If You Don’t Get Your Wisdom Teeth Out

Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last teeth to develop, typically emerging between ages 15 and 25. Located at the back of the mouth, these teeth often cause issues due to limited space in the jaw, leading to impaction, misalignment, or other complications. While some dentists recommend removing wisdom teeth as a preventive measure, especially in young adults, others suggest keeping them if they’re healthy and properly positioned.

But what happens if you choose not to get your wisdom teeth out? This article explores the potential risks, benefits, and considerations of leaving wisdom teeth in place, helping you make an informed decision about your oral health.

Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth are evolutionary remnants from a time when human diets included tougher, unprocessed foods like roots and raw plants, requiring extra chewing power. Modern diets and smaller jaw sizes mean these teeth are often unnecessary and lack space to erupt properly. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), wisdom teeth frequently become impacted (trapped in the jaw) or misaligned, leading to complications that may necessitate removal. However, in rare cases, they can function normally if they erupt fully and align correctly.

What Happens If You Don’t Get Your Wisdom Teeth Out?

Leaving wisdom teeth in place can lead to a range of outcomes, depending on their position, health, and your oral hygiene. If your wisdom teeth are healthy, fully erupted, properly aligned, and easy to clean, they may not cause issues. However, problems often arise when wisdom teeth are impacted, partially erupted, or crowded, including:

• Infections: Impacted or partially erupted wisdom teeth can trap bacteria, leading to pericoronitis (infection of the gum tissue around the tooth) or abscesses.

• Cysts or Tumors: Fluid-filled sacs (cysts) or, rarely, tumors can form around impacted wisdom teeth, potentially damaging nearby teeth, roots, or jawbone.

• Tooth Decay and Gum Disease: Partially erupted wisdom teeth are hard to clean, creating pockets for bacteria that cause cavities or periodontal disease.

• Damage to Adjacent Teeth: Crowded wisdom teeth can push against neighboring molars, causing misalignment, pain, or damage.

• Jaw Pain and Sinus Issues: Impacted wisdom teeth may lead to jaw discomfort, nerve damage, or sinus pressure and congestion, especially in the upper jaw.

• Alignment Problems: Wisdom teeth can shift other teeth, potentially requiring orthodontic treatment to correct bite issues.

The ADA notes that these complications are more likely if wisdom teeth are left in place, especially as you age, when denser jawbones make extraction more difficult and recovery slower.

Is It Okay to Never Remove Wisdom Teeth?

Yes, it’s okay to keep wisdom teeth if they meet specific criteria: they are healthy, fully erupted, properly aligned with opposing teeth, and can be cleaned effectively during daily oral hygiene. In such cases, wisdom teeth can function like other molars without causing harm. However, this scenario is rare, as most people’s jaws lack sufficient space for proper eruption. Regular dental checkups with X-rays are essential to monitor their condition, as even asymptomatic wisdom teeth can develop issues over time, such as silent infections or cysts.

What Happens If My Wisdom Teeth Never Come Out?

If your wisdom teeth remain fully impacted (trapped within the gums), they may not cause immediate symptoms but can still pose risks. Potential issues include:

• Cyst Formation: Impacted teeth can develop cysts that erode jawbone or damage adjacent teeth.

• Infection: Bacteria can infiltrate the gum tissue around impacted teeth, causing infections or abscesses.

• Nerve Damage: Impacted wisdom teeth near nerves may lead to numbness or pain in the jaw or face.

• Bone Loss: Prolonged impaction can weaken the jawbone, affecting overall oral health.

X-rays during routine dental visits can detect these issues early, even if you feel no pain. Delaying removal until complications arise may increase surgical risks, such as nerve damage or prolonged recovery, especially in older adults when bones are denser.

Can You Die If You Don’t Get Your Wisdom Teeth Removed?

While rare, untreated wisdom tooth complications can lead to life-threatening conditions. Severe infections, such as abscesses or pericoronitis, can spread to the bloodstream (sepsis) or nearby tissues, causing serious health risks. Cysts or tumors, though uncommon, may grow and damage vital structures like nerves or bones, requiring complex surgery. These risks are higher in individuals with compromised immune systems. Prompt dental evaluation and, if necessary, removal can prevent such extreme outcomes. Death from wisdom tooth complications is exceedingly rare with modern dental care, but untreated issues should not be ignored.

Why Can’t You Keep Your Wisdom Teeth After Removal?

After extraction, wisdom teeth are typically discarded as medical waste due to health and safety regulations. They are considered biohazardous material, as they may carry bacteria or bloodborne pathogens. Additionally, extracted teeth are often damaged during removal, making them unsuitable for reinsertion or keepsakes. Some patients request to keep their teeth for personal reasons, but this depends on local regulations and the dentist’s policy. Always discuss this with your oral surgeon beforehand, as sterilization and safe handling are required.

Benefits of Keeping Wisdom Teeth

Keeping healthy, properly positioned wisdom teeth can offer advantages, though these are rare due to common alignment issues. Benefits include:

• Functional Chewing: Fully erupted, aligned wisdom teeth can aid in chewing, distributing bite forces evenly.

• Preserving Jaw Structure: Healthy wisdom teeth can maintain jawbone integrity, preventing bone loss in the back of the mouth.

• Avoiding Surgery: Keeping wisdom teeth eliminates surgical risks like bleeding, infection, or temporary numbness, as well as recovery time (typically 3–7 days).

• Cost Savings: Avoiding extraction saves on procedure costs, which range from $75–$600 per tooth, depending on complexity.

These benefits apply only if the teeth are problem-free, which requires regular dental monitoring to confirm.

Disadvantages of Removing Wisdom Teeth

While often recommended, wisdom tooth removal carries potential drawbacks:

• Surgical Risks: Complications like excessive bleeding, infection, dry socket (3–5% of cases), or temporary nerve damage (leading to numbness) can occur.

• Recovery Time: Healing takes 3–14 days, with swelling, discomfort, or dietary restrictions (soft foods only) during this period.

• Cost: Simple extractions cost $75–$200 per tooth, while impacted teeth can cost $225–$600 each, potentially totaling $1,000–$2,400 for all four, depending on anesthesia and location.

• Jaw Weakness: Removing wisdom teeth may slightly weaken the jawbone in rare cases, though this is minimal with modern techniques.

Young adults (ages 15–22) typically recover faster due to less dense bone and less developed roots, making early removal a common recommendation.

Do They Break Your Jaw to Remove Wisdom Teeth?

No, dentists or oral surgeons do not break your jaw to remove wisdom teeth. The procedure involves making an incision in the gum, removing bone if necessary, and extracting the tooth, sometimes in pieces if impacted. General or local anesthesia ensures comfort, and modern techniques minimize trauma. In rare cases, a jaw fracture may occur (less than 1% of extractions), typically in older patients with denser bones or severely impacted teeth, but this is not intentional and requires additional treatment. Skilled surgeons and proper imaging reduce this risk.

Wisdom Tooth Removal Cost

The cost of wisdom tooth removal varies based on factors like location, tooth position, anesthesia type, and insurance coverage. According to the ADA and industry estimates:

• Simple Extraction: $75–$200 per tooth for fully erupted teeth.

• Impacted Extraction: $225–$600 per tooth, depending on complexity (soft tissue vs. bony impaction).

• Total Cost: Removing all four wisdom teeth can range from $300–$2,400, with additional fees for sedation ($100–$500 for IV sedation or general anesthesia).

• Insurance: Many dental plans cover 50–80% of costs if medically necessary, but coverage varies. Check with your provider.

Costs are lower in urban areas with more providers and higher in rural regions. Some clinics offer payment plans to ease the financial burden.

Do You Have to Get Your Wisdom Teeth Removed?

No, you don’t have to remove wisdom teeth if they are healthy, fully erupted, properly aligned, and easily cleaned. However, the ADA recommends removal if you experience or are at risk for:

• Pain or swelling near wisdom teeth

• Repeated infections or pericoronitis

• Cysts or tumors

• Damage to adjacent teeth

• Gum disease or cavities

• Crowding or misalignment

Preventive removal is often advised in young adults (15–22) to avoid future complications, as recovery is faster and risks are lower. If your wisdom teeth are asymptomatic but impacted, your dentist may monitor them with X-rays every 6–12 months to catch potential issues early.

FAQs About Wisdom Teeth

Q: How do I know if my wisdom teeth need to be removed?
A: Consult a dentist for an exam and X-rays. Signs like pain, swelling, infection, crowding, or cysts indicate removal may be necessary. Even asymptomatic impacted teeth may require extraction to prevent future complications.

Q: Can I delay wisdom tooth removal?
A: If your wisdom teeth are asymptomatic and healthy, you may delay removal but should monitor them with regular dental visits. Delaying symptomatic or problematic teeth can worsen complications like infections or tooth damage.

Q: How long is recovery after wisdom tooth removal?
A: Recovery typically takes 3–7 days for swelling and discomfort to subside, though full healing may take 2 weeks. Follow post-op instructions, like eating soft foods and avoiding straws, to prevent complications like dry socket.

Q: Are there alternatives to removal?
A: If wisdom teeth are partially erupted and causing issues, treatments like operculectomy (removing gum tissue over the tooth) may help temporarily, but removal is often the most effective solution for problematic teeth.

Conclusion

Leaving wisdom teeth in place can be safe if they’re healthy, fully erupted, properly aligned, and easy to clean, but this is rare due to common issues like impaction or crowding. If left untreated, problematic wisdom teeth can lead to infections, cysts, tooth damage, or alignment issues, with rare but serious risks like sepsis. Preventive removal in young adults (15–22) is often recommended due to easier recovery and lower risks.

Costs range from $300–$2,400 for all four teeth, depending on complexity. Regular dental checkups with X-rays are crucial to monitor wisdom teeth and decide if removal is necessary. Consult a trusted dentist, like those at Pearl Dental in Pomona, to assess your wisdom teeth and protect your oral health.