Should I remove wisdom teeth?

Dear Dentist,I recently visited a dental clinic and the dentist advised me to have two of my last molars removed. He said my teeth are not properly aligned. However, both teeth are not hurting. Should I have them removed?
Meriz

Dear Meriz, I assume the molars you refer to are the very last molars, called the wisdom teeth. We all have four wisdom teeth, with one on each quadrant. They are the last teeth to develop usually between 17 and 25 years. However, in a few instances, some develop these last molars even at 30 years. Many practising dentists recommend removal of such teeth if their stay in the mouth causes more harm than good.
The harm could be due developing tooth decay due to one being unable to clean his last molars, or it may be in terms of pain where a tooth develops in a wrong way.
The last molars normally develop in different ways;

The normal longtitudinal way, where a tooth erupts like other normal teeth. With this kind of development, there is enough space enough to accommodate the tooth development, and one feels no pain during eruption. Such teeth are also easy to brush as they normally align properly with other teeth in the jaw. One needs not to remove this tooth as it can easily be repaired even when it has some decay.

Diagonal development of a tooth. This eruption is referred to as an impacted tooth, and it is why many dentists recommend people to have their teeth removed. It usually causes much pain when developing and is difficult to clean, harbours foods and tooth decay causing bacteria which end up destroying the tooth. If your tooth develops in such a way, you need to seek the dentist’s attention. If there is no pain and no decay, one needs not remove it. However, in case of pain with or without decay, one should have his or her tooth removed. It is always better to have such a tooth removed by a trusted and experienced dentist.

Development below the gum line. This is when a tooth develops below the gum line and it cannot be seen in the mouth by the naked eyes, except with a dental x-ray. With this kind of tooth, decay is impossible but it may cause pain. In case of pain, it can still
Based on the information above, I advise you to have your tooth re-examined and then an appropriate decision taken when you are well informed. Many options can be provided if you get an experienced dentist.

The writer is a dentist
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