Most parents don’t talk to kids about getting wisdom teeth. They just start erupting through the gums and you are informed that you are supposed to go to the dentist to have them removed. Do they need to be removed? What do wisdom teeth do anyway?
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth is the common name given to molars that erupt at the back of our mouth on both the upper and lower rows of teeth. Dentists call them third molars.
These are teeth that pop up between the ages of 17 and 30, which is why people call them wisdom teeth. They are teeth you get after you become an adult and many past cultures use the event as a way to acknowledge a person’s maturity in the clan or tribe.
Wisdom teeth may not all come in at once. They can erupt one or two at a time and you won’t see another one for several years. However, it’s just feasible that they will all erupt around the same time. Some never get all their wisdom teeth and others don’t get them at all.
Most get all their wisdom teeth by age 25, but some can get them as late as 30.
The original purpose of wisdom teeth was to grind food. Back in prehistoric days, mouths were larger and the extra teeth served a purpose because of the type of food eaten. We don’t need them today.
What’s The Problem With Wisdom Teeth?
The problem with wisdom teeth is there is no room for them. This means they come in at angles, crowd out other teeth, and can become impacted. Most dentists recommend removing them before they become a problem.
However, it isn’t always necessary to remove wisdom teeth. Some people have no problems with their wisdom teeth and they don’t require removal.
For the rest of us, wisdom teeth can present many problems including:
- Gum pain
- Infection
- Tooth decay in the wisdom tooth
- Damage to nearby teeth
- A cyst developing around the wisdom tooth
- Problems installing braces
Another problem with wisdom teeth is they are almost impossible to clean way back in the mouth. That leads to food becoming trapped behind the tooth, which will eventually lead to the wisdom tooth decaying.
Some experts state that even if wisdom teeth are currently causing problems, they can be a host for diseases that could affect you later.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth that are impacted will need to be surgically removed. These are teeth that are growing at a weird angle but what makes it impacted is that it is trapped in the jawbone. An impacted wisdom tooth doesn’t have room in the mouth to grow so it grows into the back of the mouth, or “lies down” within the jawbone or starts pushing other nearby teeth.
Even a wisdom tooth that grows straight can be trapped within the jawbone, making it impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain and problems with other nearby teeth like misalignment and tooth decay. It is recommended that impacted wisdom teeth be removed as soon as feasible.
Getting Wisdom Teeth Removed
Removing your wisdom teeth doesn’t have to be any more complicated than other tooth extractions if it’s not impacted. The dentist will numb the area with a local anesthetic, pull the tooth, and stitch up the area.
This procedure shouldn’t take more than an hour. You may feel some pain as the anesthetic wears off but that goes away in a day or two.
Impacted wisdom teeth will require a more complicated surgery but it’s still considered a routine procedure that is done in a dental office. The oral surgeon may need to remove some of the jawbone to get the impacted tooth out. That could involve inserting a bone graft so that jawbone tissue grows back.
This type of surgery still only involves low doses of anesthetic, and you will remain awake for the procedure. The area will be numbed so you won’t feel anything but pressure where the oral surgeon is working.
Sedation services are often available for those undergoing this type of surgery.
Post Extraction
The dentist will give you specific instructions on post-extraction aftercare. Generally, you will want to stick to soft foods for a while and not use a straw. The sucking action could disrupt the blood clot and stitches.
The stitches could be dissolvable or require a follow-up visit for the dentist to remove them. Talk to your oral surgeon to see what follow-up appointments will be necessary. The surgeon will likely want at least one visit to ensure that healing is going as expected.
We can answer all your questions about erupting wisdom teeth and advise what you should do about them. Make an appointment for a consultation exam today and let us help you with your oral health!
