What are wisdom teeth?
What are wisdom teeth?Also known as “Third Molars”, wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt in the mouth. Usually there are four in total, one in each back corner of the mouth. They typically appear between the ages of 17 and 24 (when a person is thought to become wise, hence their name) but can erupt later than that.
Many people live with their wisdom teeth for their entire lives without incident, but it is quite common for removal of them to become necessary.
What does it mean when a wisdom tooth is “impacted”?
Wisdom tooth impaction is a common problem. Normally, all teeth including wisdom teeth, “erupt” or break through the gumline so they become visible in the mouth. A tooth is described as “impacted” if it is blocked from erupting into the mouth. While impacted teeth can cause a wide range of problems, sometimes they present no worry at all and can be left as is. Generally speaking, if you are older than 30 and have not had any previous problems with your wisdom teeth, they are most likely healthy and well positioned and will probably not cause problems in the future. There are, of course, always exceptions to this rule.
Necessity of wisdom tooth extraction
Only a dentist can properly assess whether wisdom tooth extraction is necessary. All teens should have their wisdom teeth evaluated by a dentist when they are between the ages of 16 and 19 so a determination can be made as to whether removal is necessary, or so the situation can be closely monitored on an ongoing basis. Your dentist may recommend wisdom tooth extraction if a wisdom tooth…
- is crowding your other teeth
- is causing pain
- becomes stuck or blocked as it is trying to emerge
- has become infected as it breaks through the gum
Age of extraction
It is generally advised that should wisdom tooth extraction become necessary, that it be done sooner rather than later, and when a patient is younger as his or her roots and bones are softer and the healing process is generally faster and easier.
What are the possible consequences of not having your wisdom teeth removed when they should be?
- what was initially a simple extraction that could be done in a dental office like mine can become a more difficult procedure that must be done by an oral surgeon – often in a hospital – as the wisdom teeth over time move into irregular positions and awkward angles
- orthodontic problems arise as these newly emerged teeth can quickly transform an attractive smile and functional bite into a complex orthodontic case that can take years to correct
- when wisdom teeth break through the gums only partially, flaps of tissue can grow over them, creating a space where food can easily become trapped. This causes gums at the site to become red, swollen and painful and can ultimately lead to infection
- infection caused by wisdom teeth and cysts that can grow around the infected tooth can be dangerous to other surrounding teeth, jaws and bones, and even life-threatening if the infection spreads and/or become severe enough
Symptoms of a problematic wisdom tooth
If you are experiencing any of these problems, you should see a dentist immediately:
- swelling at the back of the mouth
- bad breath, which could be caused by infection
- a bad taste in your mouth, which can also be a sign of infection
- pus appearing from your gums
- difficulty opening your mouth
- tenderness or soreness when chewing
- sores or pain in your inner cheek where the teeth may be digging into the soft tissue
- pain that feels like an earache
Steven Deskin is a Dentist in general practice.
