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Wisdom Teeth – Everything You Need To Know

There are a lot of mysteries about wisdom teeth…What are they? Do I have them? Why are they there? We have some answers for you.

What  Wisdom Teeth  are:

Wisdom teeth are like the other teeth in your mouth, except they emerge much later in life. Typically, wisdom teeth come in during the late teens or early twenties.  They got their name because of this eruption at the ” age of wisdom”.

Wisdom teeth are a third set of molars located in the very back of the mouth. While not everyone has all four third molars, we have seen some patients have only two or three, and some don’t have any at all.  We have seen a few rare cases of as many as 6 too. Most of all, this is a variable tooth in everyone.

Why they can be a problem:

For some people, wisdom teeth come in perfectly fine. And for others, they may be misaligned.  Because of the misalignment, they can cause crowding of the existing teeth or damage nearby teeth, jaw bone or nerves.

Mostly, we see third molars that are impacted. This means the teeth are stuck under the gum and or bone. Consequently, they can not fully break through. Impacted teeth, as a result, can trap food and bacteria, which can  lead to tooth decay, swelling, tenderness and bad breath.

What to do:

People with misaligned or impacted wisdom teeth need to have them removed. Most dentists recommend having wisdom teeth removed at a younger age, therefore, avoiding problems arising. We recommend the removal earlier rather than later,  as it is easier for young people because the roots of the teeth are not fully developed and the bone is less dense.

If you want to get your third molars removed, the first step is to have your dentist x-ray them to determine the presence and position of the teeth. Next, you and your dentist can determine the best course of action for you. Simple extractions can be done in our office. Oral Surgeons are a great option for complicated extractions of third molars. Finally, call us to have your wisdom tooth consult at 920-733-2445.