The right age to remove wisdom teeth

Introduction

Tooth extraction is one of the treatment methods that becomes unavoidable in some cases. This method is usually performed when the tooth is severely damaged or cannot be repaired for other reasons. The question that many patients, especially parents, ask is, what is the best age for tooth extraction? Several factors such as the growth status of the teeth, type of tooth and clinical conditions play a role in determining the right time for tooth extraction. In this article, we will examine the appropriate age for tooth extraction and the conditions related to it.

Pulling milk teeth in children

Baby teeth usually fall out naturally between the ages of 6 and 12 and give way to permanent teeth. In some cases, premature extraction of milk teeth becomes necessary, including in the following situations:

• Existence of severe decay that cannot be repaired
• Tooth infection or abscess
• failure to fall milk teeth on time which leads to crowding of permanent teeth or orthodontic problems

In such cases, dentists recommend that the baby tooth be extracted to provide enough space for the permanent teeth to grow.

Pulling wisdom teeth (third molar)

Wisdom teeth usually grow between the ages of 17 and 25. However, due to the lack of space in the jaw, these teeth are often incompletely developed or stuck, which can cause pain, infection, or damage to other teeth. Dentists usually recommend that wisdom teeth be extracted at a young age, before the age of 25, because:

The roots of the teeth are not yet fully formed.

• The risk of complications and recovery time is less
• Reducing the risk of subsequent infections and displacement of other teeth

Factors determining the appropriate age for tooth extraction

In addition to the type of tooth, the factors that are effective in determining the right age for tooth extraction are:

• General health of the patient: Some patients need special care in the tooth extraction process due to medical conditions such as diabetes or heart problems. In these cases, the timing and method of treatment should be done more carefully.
• State of teeth and gums: If the tooth has severe decay or gum infection and other treatments are not effective, tooth extraction may be recommended at any age.
• Density of teeth and orthodontic problems: In cases where there is crowding of teeth and space is needed for permanent teeth, dentists may pull teeth at a younger age to prevent future problems.

Final Notes

Although the exact time of tooth extraction is different depending on the conditions of each patient, the ages of 17 to 25 years for the extraction of wisdom teeth and the ages of 6 to 12 years for the natural fall of milk teeth are important times in this process. Coordination between dentist and patient and accurate evaluation of clinical conditions can determine the optimal time for tooth extraction.

Scientific sources:  

1. Sigron, G. R., et al. (2014). “Age as a predictive factor for postoperative morbidity in third molar surgery: a prospective cohort study.” *Clinical Oral Investigations*, 18(4), 1205-1211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-013-1094-4  

2. Ghaeminia, H., et al. (2013). “The effect of third molar removal on the development of second molar caries: A retrospective study.” *Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery*, 71(6), 987-992. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joms.2012.11.023  

3. Rakprasitkul, S. (2001). “Pathologic changes in the pericoronal tissues of unerupted third molars.” *Quintessence International*, 32(8), 633-638.