There are many benefits to receiving a wisdom tooth evaluation, such as:
- If left untreated, periodic pericoronitis—the inflammation of gum tissue covering the wisdom tooth—can progress to dangerous facial infections and swelling, requiring hospital admission and intravenous antibiotics.
- Cysts, tumours or abscesses are also associated with wisdom teeth that have been left untreated for prolonged periods.
- Food packing and difficulty cleaning the area often leads to tooth decay. The decay usually affects the tooth in front of the wisdom tooth, and both teeth may require extraction simultaneously.