Wisdom Tooth

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Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, erupt at the age of 18-25 years. Normally people have a total of 12 molars in their mouth, three in each quadrant of the mouth; upper, lower, right and left. The first molars usually appear in the mouth at around six years of age and the second molars at around age 12.

The third molars are the last teeth to erupt and serve their purpose if they grow in properly, and are well-aligned and in a proper relation to the other teeth. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

Impaction

Wisdom teeth are said to be impacted when they do not grow into the mouth in proper position. This usually happens due to insufficient room in the jaw. They may be either completely encased within the bone or partially erupted. A dentist examines a patient’s mouth and his or her x-rays to determine if the teeth are impacted or whether they might grow in properly over time. Impacted teeth may cause problems such as infection in the surrounding bone, decay of adjacent teeth, gum disease or rarely, the formation of a cyst or tumor from the tissue which formed the tooth. Some dentists believe that they also cause pressure on the other teeth causing crowding or relapse after orhtodontic treatment. Many dentists recommend removal of impacted wisdom teeth to prevent potential problems in the future.

When should wisdom teeth be removed?

The following symptoms may indicate that the wisdom teeth are not aligned correctly and need to be removed:

  • Pain
  • Infection in the mouth
  • Facial swelling
  • Swelling of the gums in the back of the mouth leading to a decreased opening of the mouth

Many dentists will recommend removal of the wisdom teeth, (when the roots are approximately two-thirds developed, usually in the adolescent years),as early removal will help to head off problems, before they occur. Your dentist may remove them himself or refer you to a oral surgeon, depending on the level of impaction.

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