Five things you need to know about wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth are the last set of molars that appear at the end corners of your mouth. They are four in total, two above and two below. They grow between the ages of 18 and 24 which is why they are referred to as the wisdom teeth because they are produced by wise young adults.

Most people don’t have enough room to fit wisdom which is actually the main reason they seek their removal. Wisdom teeth that develop and never break through are known as impacted.

An erupting wisdom tooth can be one of the few nightmares that cause jaw stiffness or dental infection.

Here are five important things you need to know about wisdom teeth.

They are technically called third molars

In early humans, wisdom teeth grew as the third set of molars, used for grinding coarse, hearty foods. The early man had a broad jaw that accommodated third molars without any hustle.

Yet, due to centuries of development and evolution, the jaw has significantly reduced in size as seen in the modern man. But even with these advancements, wisdom teeth still force their way into the human’s dental formula as technical third molars. Scientists predict their extinction hundreds of centuries to come.

Most adults have four wisdom teeth

The majority of adults have four wisdom teeth; two at the back of the lower jaw, and two at the farthest end of the upper jaw.

However, this isn’t a must as some people develop only two wisdom teeth, while some do not grow any at all.

Scientists have also discovered rare cases where different people develop more than two sets of third molars.

Many people need them removed

Many people opt to remove their wisdom teeth as they cause ugly overcrowding in the mouth. Nevertheless, your dentist may only recommend surgery if the teeth grow at an angle and affect the state of other otherwise healthy teeth. If yours are healthy, fully erupted, and easily reachable for flossing and brushing, you don’t necessarily require them removed.

Impacted wisdom teeth can cause problems

Impacted wisdom teeth result in a lot of pain, especially when chewing or clamping the teeth together.

Since they lack enough space to sprout, impacted wisdom teeth may force the surrounding molars and premolars to drift out of place. As they shift, they cause pain, discomfort, and a lot of stress.

The sprouting teeth may also not surface through the gum and instead, lie under the gum line. They can also grow in the wrong direction or at an angle, hence causing cysts, jaw alignment, sinus problems, long-term cavities, ear pain, and swelling.

Removal of wisdom teeth is a routine procedure

A professional dentist can remove a visible and stubborn wisdom tooth that is causing you discomfort by clamping it with a pair of forceps. If the tooth grows inside the gum, a surgical incision is enough to bring it to the surface for a successful pull. This procedure shouldn’t be painful when done professionally and should only last a few minutes.

Bottom Line

If you care about preventing post-surgical clots, damage to other teeth, painful dry sockets, cyst development and infection of the teeth socket, getting a certified dentist is half the battle.

Contact Springvale Dental Clinic now and you’ll have every reason to smile as our expert doctors are all well trained and experienced in the procedure of wisdom teeth removal.