You have probably heard the horror stories. Swollen cheeks. Painful recovery. A kid who lived on applesauce for a week. But here is what most parents don’t realize: not everyone needs their wisdom teeth out. And for those who do, the process doesn’t have to be a nightmare.
At Oral Facial Surgery of Delaware, Dr. Campbell and Dr. Rafetto have spent decades helping families in Wilmington make smart, calm decisions about wisdom teeth. Let us walk you through the real questions you should be asking.
First, Why Do We Even Have Wisdom Teeth?
Thousands of years ago, our ancestors had larger jaws and ate rougher foods (think roots and raw meat). They needed those extra molars to grind everything down.
Today? Our jaws have gotten smaller, but the teeth haven’t gotten the memo. Most people simply don’t have enough room for four extra molars to squeeze in at the back.
The Case for Removal
Most of the time, we recommend removing wisdom teeth in the late teens or early twenties. Here is why:
- They become impacted. This means the tooth is trapped under the gum, growing sideways, backward, or at a weird angle. An impacted tooth can push against the roots of your child’s other molars, causing crowding or even damage.
- They only partially come in. A tooth that breaks through the gum just a little creates a flap. Food and bacteria get trapped under that flap, leading to infection, swelling, and pain. This is called pericoronitis, and it has a nasty habit of coming back again and again.
- They cause cysts. Sometimes, the sac around an impacted wisdom tooth fills with fluid and forms a cyst. That cyst can hollow out part of the jawbone and damage nearby nerves or teeth. This is rare, but serious.
- They are simply hard to clean. Even if a wisdom tooth comes in straight, it sits so far back in the mouth that most toothbrushes and floss cannot reach it properly. That means higher risk of cavities and gum disease on a tooth that you don’t even really need.
The Case for Leaving Them Alone
Yes, there are times when keeping wisdom teeth makes perfect sense.
A wisdom tooth can stay if it is:
- Fully erupted (completely through the gum)
- Straight and properly positioned
- Healthy (no cavities or gum disease)
- Easy to clean
- Not causing any pain or problems
If your child’s wisdom teeth check all those boxes, we can absolutely monitor them with regular X-rays and checkups. Some people keep their wisdom teeth for life without a single issue.
When Should You Get an Evaluation?
The sweet spot for a wisdom tooth evaluation is between ages 16 and 18. At this age, the roots are not fully formed yet, which actually makes removal easier and recovery faster. Younger patients also tend to heal more quickly than adults in their late twenties or thirties.
Even if you are leaning toward keeping them, come see us. We will take a panoramic X-ray that shows exactly where every wisdom tooth sits, which way it is pointing, and how close it is to the important nerve that gives feeling to your child’s lip and chin.
What to Expect at Oral Facial Surgery of Delaware
When you bring your teenager to our Silverside Road office, we keep it simple. We review the X-ray together. We explain whether the teeth are likely to cause trouble down the road. And if removal is the right call, we talk through sedation options (including IV sedation) so your child stays comfortable and relaxed the whole time.
No scare tactics. No pressure. Just honest advice from surgeons who have done this thousands of times.
Ready to find out where your child stands? Call us at 302-335-6123 to schedule a wisdom tooth consultation. We will help you make the right choice for their smile and your peace of mind.