When wisdom teeth aren’t causing pain or obvious problems, it’s natural to think you can wait. Many of our patients tell us they’ve been putting off the conversation for months or even years—and we understand that impulse completely. But what we’ve learned from caring for San Francisco families for more than four decades is that waiting often makes things more complicated down the road.
If you or a family member still have wisdom teeth, it’s worth understanding what could be developing beneath the surface, even when everything seems fine on the outside.
When There’s Not Enough Room: The Problem of Impaction
Most mouths simply don’t have adequate space for wisdom teeth to emerge properly. When this happens, these teeth may grow sideways, press against neighboring teeth, or remain trapped beneath the gum line. This is what we call impaction, and it’s more common than many people realize.
What impacted wisdom teeth can lead to:
- Damage to the healthy molars next to them
- Shifting that affects your bite and smile alignment
- Development of cysts or gradual bone loss in the jaw
The challenging aspect of impaction is that serious damage can occur without obvious symptoms. By the time you feel discomfort, the issues may be much more complex to address.
The Hidden Risk of Infection
Wisdom teeth that only partially break through the gum create small pockets where bacteria love to settle. This commonly leads to a condition called pericoronitis—an infection of the gum tissue around the tooth.
Signs of pericoronitis include:
- Swelling and tenderness in the back of your mouth
- Pain that worsens when chewing or swallowing
- Jaw stiffness that can make it difficult to open your mouth fully
- Sometimes fever or swollen lymph nodes
While this might start as a minor irritation, these infections can become serious if left untreated. What’s frustrating for patients is that this cycle often repeats—the infection may seem to resolve on its own, only to return weeks or months later.
The Challenge of Keeping Them Clean
Even when wisdom teeth erupt normally, their location makes them extremely difficult to clean effectively. Despite your best efforts with brushing and flossing, plaque and bacteria tend to accumulate around these hard-to-reach areas.
Over time, this can lead to:
- Cavities in the wisdom teeth: Often these decay extensively before being detected
- Damage to the second molars: The teeth you really need for chewing can develop decay from proximity to problematic wisdom teeth
- Gum disease: Chronic inflammation that can affect your overall oral health
- Bone loss: Advanced gum disease can compromise the support structure for all your teeth
Why Timing Matters More Than You Think
While we successfully remove wisdom teeth for patients of all ages, there are real advantages to addressing them earlier rather than later. In your late teens and early twenties:
- Root development is incomplete: This makes removal significantly easier and safer
- Bone is more flexible: Recovery tends to be faster and more comfortable
- Healing is more predictable: Younger patients typically experience fewer complications
As we age, the roots become fully formed and may grow closer to important nerves. What might have been a straightforward procedure at 18 can become more complex at 30 or 40.
A Proactive Approach to Your Oral Health
At SF Oral Surgery, we believe in helping patients make informed decisions based on their individual circumstances. Dr. Michael Chan and our team use advanced 3D imaging to carefully evaluate each patient’s wisdom teeth, assessing not just their current condition but also predicting potential future problems.
This approach, rooted in the same philosophy of comprehensive care that Dr. William Chan established when he founded our practice in 1979, enables us to recommend treatment timing that is tailored to your specific situation.
We understand that oral surgery can be intimidating, but we’re dedicated to making the experience as comfortable as possible. From detailed pre-operative planning to personalized post-operative care—including our signature same-day follow-up calls—we’re with you every step of the way.
Making an Informed Decision
Every patient’s situation is unique, and what’s right for one person may not be right for another. Some wisdom teeth can be safely monitored, while others benefit from early removal. The key is having accurate information about your specific circumstances.
If you’re curious about the current status of your wisdom teeth or want to understand your options, we encourage you to learn more about wisdom teeth removal and what the process involves. Our San Francisco practice has been helping families navigate these decisions for more than 40 years, and we’re here to provide the information and guidance you need to make the best choice for your long-term oral health.
Request A Consultation
Get To Know Your Team | Follow Us On Instagram
