Assessment of wisdom teeth

X-ray

If you’re lucky enough to be able to take preventive action, it’s strongly recommended that you have an X-ray taken around the age of 15 or 16, to measure the progress of these teeth and determine their probable orientation. Since the roots are not yet formed at this stage of growth, any extraction will be much simpler. If, depending on your age, root formation has already been completed and the teeth positioned, your dentist may, depending on the situation and his or her approach, recommend retaining or extracting the wisdom teeth. Don’t underestimate the importance of this monitoring or assessment, because even if your wisdom teeth are pain-free, there’s no guarantee that they’ll stay that way, and there’s even a good chance that they’ll cause you pain in your lifetime. If you’re already showing signs of infection or damage to adjacent teeth, there’s no question: surgery will surely be recommended.