Wisdom Teeth Information
What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars in the very back of your mouth.
Should they be removed?
They may not need to be removed if they are:
- Healthy
- Grown in completely (fully erupted)
- Positioned correctly and biting properly with their opposing teethhalitosis)
- Able to be cleaned as part of daily hygiene practices
Many times, however, wisdom teeth don’t have room to grow properly and can cause problems. Erupting wisdom teeth can grow at various angles in the jaw, sometimes even horizontally.
The following problems with wisdom teeth can occur:
Wisdom teeth can remain completely hidden within the gums.
If they can’t emerge normally, wisdom teeth become trapped (impacted) within your jaw. Sometimes this can result in infection or can cause a cyst that can damage other teeth roots or bone support.
Wisdom teeth can partially emerge through the gums.
Because this area is hard to see and clean, wisdom teeth that partially emerge create a passageway that can become a magnet for bacteria that cause gum disease and oral infection.
Wisdom teeth can crowd nearby teeth.
If wisdom teeth don’t have enough room to come in properly, they may crowd or damage nearby teeth.
Some dentists recommend removing wisdom teeth if they don’t fully emerge. Many dentists believe it’s better to remove wisdom teeth at a younger age, before the roots and bone are fully formed, and when recovery is generally faster after surgery. This is why some young adults have their wisdom teeth pulled before the teeth cause problems.
Impacted wisdom teeth can trap food or lead to cavities on tooth surfaces that are hard to clean, this can lead to an infection and other problems. Teeth must be erupted fully to properly function when helping us eat and chew.