Wisdom teeth generally emerge between the ages of seventeen and twenty-five. Some people will get all of their four wisdom teeth, while others may have one or two erupt behind the last molars. As for some young adults, they may not have any wisdom teeth at all. Genetics and origin will primarily determine the emergence of wisdom teeth in people.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
In prehistoric times, wisdom teeth were once necessary for chewing and grinding tough raw foods that were the staple diet of our early ancestors. The invention of fire allowed us to cook and soften these foods. As a result, we began to depend less and less on wisdom teeth for chewing food, reducing our need to rely on the third set of molars. However, most of us will have at least one wisdom tooth due to our genetic evolution.
Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?
There are several reasons why the wisdom teeth need to be removed, including:
Wisdom teeth need to be extracted when their position increases your risk of decay and causes problems for your oral health. For instance, misaligned teeth can be pretty challenging to brush and floss correctly, crowd or damage the surrounding teeth, and encourage the accumulation of food particles and bacteria on their deep surfaces.
Wisdom teeth can sometimes get impacted, a situation when they cannot break through your gums appropriately. Third molars that are stuck under your gums or still trapped within the jawbone can lead to the formation of a cyst that could harm the roots and supporting bones of the neighboring teeth.
Partially impacted wisdom teeth are a condition in which they have not erupted fully but have become stuck, creating a weak spot for bacteria to enter the gums and infect them.
Is Wisdom Teeth Removal Painful?
Many people feel anxious about dental treatments and surgery. Our dentists can educate you about the perfect wisdom teeth removal techniques to ensure a successful extraction.
If wisdom teeth have emerged above the gum line, they can be pulled out in a simple extraction using local anesthesia. At the most, you may feel a pulling or tugging sensation during the process but no pain. After the extraction, you may experience numbness for several hours. This is followed by minimal discomfort for a few days that can be relieved with pain medication.
Surgical extraction of impacted wisdom teeth may require the administration of general anesthesia, especially when all four wisdom teeth need to be removed. The recovery from wisdom tooth removal usually takes about two days. We may prescribe antibiotics and painkillers to ensure speedy healing.
If you want to learn more about wisdom teeth extractions, visit our office, Dr. Wisdom Teeth, at 287 E. Hunt Hwy. #101, San Tan Valley, AZ 85143. You can also reach us at (833) 394-7366.
