WISDOM TEETH | PART ONE | WHEN DO WISDOM TEETH COME IN AND DO I NEED TO GET THEM OUT?
Do you have—or ever heard—a famous wisdom teeth story?
You know the kind, where someone mentions a bunch of terms like “impacted” and “going under”.
And the next thing you know you’re on a wild ride with them of adventure questioning why in the world most of us even get wisdom teeth to begin with?
These special teeth can definitely make us scratch our heads in mystery.
If you’ve ever wondered when do wisdom teeth come in and do I need to get them out (plus a few other head-scratchers)—we have those answers for you and more.
WHAT ARE WISDOM TEETH?
Wisdom teeth are technically your third set of molars.
Molars—which have a flatter shape compared to the sharper teeth in the front—are conveniently used to grind food when chewing.
Anthropologists theorize that humans may have evolved enough that wisdom teeth are not needed in modern times due to the ability to cook, soften food, and use utensils that perform well in preparation to chew and consume food.
(Pretty interesting, right?!)
WHEN DO WISDOM TEETH COME IN?
There are many dental milestones (hello, the first tooth) and one of those happens between the ages of 17-21—where wisdom teeth start to appear.
This is usually the last (third) set of molars to come in, hence why they call it “wisdom teeth”.
DO WISDOM TEETH NEED TO BE REMOVED?
This is the question people most often ask, especially if you don’t experience any wisdom tooth pain and on the contrary, if you have impacted wisdom teeth.
The general debate around removal is when the wisdom teeth are not causing an issue in your mouth.
Some dentists side with complete removal of wisdom teeth—mouth challenges or not—while other dentists take a more cautious, case-by-case approach.
As with any tooth that erupts, discomfort is normal, however continued pain is not.
SIGNS OF POTENTIAL WISDOM TEETH REMOVAL
• Consistent pain, infection, tumor, or cysts.
• If your mouth can’t adequately hold space for this set of molars (often referred to as tooth crowding) which can lead to damage of surrounding teeth.
• An impacted wisdom tooth (stuck under your gums and in some cases even the jaw).
• Tooth decay that can’t be restored.
• Gum disease and constant inflammation.
• A dental treatment plan that includes braces or other mouth care.
If wisdom teeth aren’t removed, continuous monitoring is recommended.
As we age the risk for potential health problems—including those with wisdom teeth—may pop up and need to be reassessed.
If your wisdom teeth never came in—which is something that does occur—consider yourself lucky.
This does happen and as head-scratchers go, we still don’t definitively know why this occurs.
With regular dental visits and overall mouth care, you and your dentist can create a dental plan that is comfortable for your health.
Want to find out if wisdom teeth removal is right for you?
We’d love to help you find out!
Contact Integrity Dental in Pueblo, CO today to get started.