Most oral surgeons suggest patients remove their wisdom teeth as soon as possible to avoid complications later in life. The ideal age for wisdom teeth removal is between 16 and 25, when the teeth are mature but haven’t yet erupted. Dr. Jenibeth Robles-Velez at Advanced Oral & Facial Specialists specializes in wisdom teeth removal in Aiken.

Increased Surgical Risks

Patients over 30 are more likely to experience surgical complications when wisdom teeth are removed. The teeth could be impacted and impinge on neighboring teeth, pushing them out of alignment or damaging them. The roots of wisdom teeth grow longer and can become entangled with nerve bundles in the jawbone as you age. In rare cases, the jawbone may need to be cut away to remove the tooth.

Surgical Complexity

Dr. Robles-Velez can remove wisdom teeth at any age, but the procedure becomes increasingly complex as the years pass. She night have to cut through more of the jawbone, break the tooth into pieces to remove it, or work around entangled nerves with older patients. The result is a lengthier procedure resulting in more time under anesthesia and a higher bill.

Slower Recovery

The older we are, the longer our bodies take to recover from surgery. If you are over 30 when you get wisdom teeth removal, it will take a few days longer for swelling, bruising, and pain to subside. You might have to take more time off work and ask for help caring for your family. Coping with pain and swelling during recovery makes day-to-day chores more difficult.

Is It Still a Good Idea to Have Your Wisdom Teeth Removed If You Are Older?

Advanced Oral & Facial Specialists evaluate each patient’s wisdom teeth and take x-rays to determine whether wisdom teeth removal is a good idea. If you do not have issues such as pain or other symptoms of infection, we might recommend leaving your wisdom teeth and carefully monitoring them.

Impacted wisdom teeth removal is crucial if you are experiencing symptoms such as pain, inflammation, infection, or an abscess. Digital imaging and x-rays aid us in determining whether there is damage beneath the gums or in the jawbone.

Contact Us today about wisdom teeth removal

Dr. Robles-Velez and her staff are experts in wisdom teeth removal. Regardless of your age, we want this to be as stress- and pain-free as possible. No two patients are the same, which is why we carefully examine each individual and form a wisdom teeth removal plan specifically for your needs.