Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are a third set of molars that usually erupt between the ages of 17 and 25, hence the name wisdom teeth. It was presumed they appeared so much later than the other teeth because people were wiser than that of a child when the other teeth erupt. Wisdom teeth are an interesting history lesson in our evolution. Today as many as 35% of our population are born without wisdom teeth. Many of our fellow American have one to three wisdom teeth and many more have wisdom teeth that are impacted. Let’s look at that unique evolution of the wisdom teeth and the jaws, the effect of impacted wisdom teeth and the options in dealing with them.

The History of Wisdom Teeth

Thousands of years ago the human jaw had three sets of molars to deal with the grinding of plant tissue. Jaws were larger to accommodate the 32 teeth. Through those 10,000 years, as the diet changed, so did the demand for a larger brain. As the brain grew the jaw grew smaller. Today’s jaw often does not have room for this additional set of molars. Which now leads us to impacted wisdom teeth, those that do not erupt, to those that need to be removed for fear of damaging the balance of the teeth in the jaw.

The Symptoms of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

If your wisdom teeth are indeed impacted and are becoming problematic you might see red or swollen gums, experience jaw pain, have some tender or bleeding gums or have some swelling around the jaw. You might even experience bad breath or an unpleasant taste in your mouth. The longer the wisdom teeth pain persists it is very likely infection is evident which will result in a negative impact on your overall general systemic health.

Causes and Complications of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth won’t erupt normally if they run into a situation of not having enough room in the arch. The jaw is not large enough to deal with the third molar. By staying impacted the molar can lead to overcrowding and crooked teeth. The wisdom teeth may be positioned horizontally, angled or aligned poorly. An impacted wisdom tooth can lead to a painful and damaging cyst, unusual decay or even gum disease.

The Treatments of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Somewhere close to 10 million wisdom teeth extracted maple grove from approximately five million people in the United States every year. This number equates to about 85% of wisdom teeth being removed. The surgery to remove impacted wisdom teeth is very common and less painful than the discomfort of leaving the impacted wisdom teeth. The immediate area is numbed with the administration of a local anesthetic. Once the area is numb an incision is made to access the impacted tooth. The tooth is extracted, and sutures close up the incision site. Your post-surgery hygiene is very important as you follow the instructions to promote successful healing. X-rays during your regular examinations will monitor your impacted wisdom teeth and suggest removal before complications occur.

More information on Wisdom Teeth & Extraction : What to Eat After Wisdom Teeth Extraction