Wisdom Teeth: A Comprehensive Guide
Wisdom teeth are the large flat teeth at the very back of your mouth. They’re the third set of molars and the last teeth to come in. Did you know that some people never actually develop them? Everyone else will most likely get theirs pulled sometime in their teenage years or their early twenties.
But why do they need to be pulled at all? What effect do they have on one’s oral health? Read on to learn more. Our dentists in Wayland & Coopersville can let you know if your wisdom teeth will need to be removed.
The History of Wisdom Teeth
The most popular theory looks to the diet of our distant ancestors for answers. Our ancestors ate a much different diet than the soft foods we eat today.
They lived off mostly roots, raw meat, and tough plants. To help them grind these tough foods, they developed a third set of molars and larger jaws to accommodate the extra teeth. Today, humans have smaller jaws and eat much softer foods. However, despite not having the space for them, our genetic code still produces wisdom teeth.
You Might Need Your Wisdom Teeth Removed if…
While most people need them removed during early adulthood, there are some people who are able to keep some or all of their wisdom teeth. If yours are coming in straight and there is enough space in your jaw, our dentists may tell you that a extraction isn’t necessary.
Each patient’s dental history is unique, and this is why our dentists will need to look at your x-rays to determine if you are able to keep yours. If you experience wisdom tooth pain, we recommend scheduling an appointment with one of our dentists as soon as possible. Sometimes the only way to get relief from pain is through .
How Wisdom Teeth Impact Your Oral Health
They don’t form until around the age of 10 and don’t emerge until early adulthood. This means that our dentists will have plenty of time to monitor the angles of each individual wisdom tooth and determine whether there’s enough space in your jaw to accommodate the extra teeth.
When wisdom teeth don’t have room to properly emerge through the gum line, they can come in at odd angles or even horizontally. In other words, crooked wisdom teeth can cause a lot of damage to your smile and undo years of orthodontic or cosmetic dental work.
A crooked wisdom tooth must be removed as soon as possible. If your jawbone is too small to accommodate them, these teeth may become trapped under the surface of the gums or may only partially erupt.
When this happens, a crooked or impacted wisdom tooth can weaken bone structure, undo years of orthodontic work, and cause pain and infection. Thankfully, our dentists will recommend wisdom tooth removal before this happens.
Request an Appointment Today
Our dentists in at Cascade, Coopersville and Wayland will let you know if your wisdom teeth (if you have any to begin with) need to be removed. To make an appointment, give our office a call at (888) 932-8669.