People typically elect to have their wisdom teeth removed early in life, such as in their late teens or early twenties. Yet, for many reasons, some people miss this window and progress into their later years with their wisdom teeth intact. Given that the body undergoes several physiological changes between early and late adulthood, some older adults wonder if it is safe or even possible to have their wisdom teeth extracted at this point. Learn more about extraction at a later age by reading below.

Benefit Over Age

When debating whether you are too old for wisdom tooth extraction, the first thing to remember is that the procedure's benefits matter far more than your age. Whether the procedure is performed during a patient's younger years or later in life, if a dentist has suggested the extraction, it is based on the notion that the procedure will improve your oral health. 

Adults with wisdom teeth are sometimes at a greater risk of developing gum disease, especially with impacted wisdom teeth. Couple this factor with the fact that age also increases the risk of gum disease, and the benefit of removing wisdom teeth at an older age is clear.  

Procedural Risk

Wisdom tooth removal can be performed at any age, but it is often suggested early in life due to the procedural risk involved. As mentioned previously, the body does undergo specific physiological changes with age, including changes to the tooth roots and jawbones.

As you get older, the roots and your bones get harder. For this reason, when extracting a wisdom tooth in an older patient, it may take longer to perform the procedure, given the rigidity of the roots and bones, to ensure no damage is caused. 

Recovery

It is also worth noting that certain medications and preexisting health conditions may impact the wisdom tooth removal recovery process. Older adults have a much higher prevalence of preexisting health conditions than the younger population. For example, medications, such as blood thinners, can increase the bleeding risk during the extraction process, and certain metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, can prolong the healing process after an infection, increasing the risk of infection.

An extraction can be performed safely for people in this group, but a discussion with their dental provider before the extraction is essential for proper planning. Patients in this population should speak with their dentist about any preexisting health issues to ensure their recovery is as smooth as possible.

Regardless of age, if you have questions about wisdom tooth extraction, speak with your dentist today for additional information.