Wisdom Teeth Linked With Periodontal Disease
December 9, 2009
By Nancy Volkers
InteliHealth News Service
INTELIHEALTH - Keeping your wisdom teeth, even if they are not impacted, may not always be wise, a study suggests.
The study found that people with at least one visible third molar (wisdom tooth) were likely to have more severe periodontal disease around their other molars than people without visible third molars. The study included 6,793 older adults. They were all between 52 and 74 years old. About 30% had at least one visible wisdom tooth.
Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. In its early stages, it causes the gums to detach from the teeth, forming pockets of space. If it is not treated, periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss.
People with visible wisdom teeth also were more likely to be:
- Male
-
African American
-
Younger than 62
-
Nonsmokers
Many people do not have room for wisdom teeth in their mouths. In some people, the teeth come in sideways or get stuck in the jaw (impacted), causing pain. Dentists have agreed for decades that partially erupted wisdom teeth should be removed. They say that in general, wisdom teeth that come in straight — and don't crowd other teeth — should be left alone. A dentist or oral surgeon can evaluate any wisdom teeth that are covered by the bone and don't come in. Some may need to be removed, while others may not.
The study appears in the December issue of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
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