What are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars, and the last set of teeth to develop. They get their name from the time they erupt: typically in the late teens and into the twenties. A small part of the population will never get their wisdom teeth, but most individuals do.

If wisdom teeth fully develop, they can have a negative impact on your beautiful smile. Often times, wisdom teeth cause crowding which can be painful. If this is the case, your dentist may suggest to have some or all of your wisdom teeth extracted.

Continue reading to find out why wisdom teeth can become so bothersome.

Why do we have wisdom teeth?

Anthropologists believe that evolution is to blame. Eons ago, man used his wisdom teeth to chew through coarse plants and meats. Today, wisdom teeth are no longer necessary, because humans have learned to use utensils to cut their food.

Impact on the mouth

Most of the time, wisdom teeth have a negative impact on the mouth. They can be painful should they break through, and they can also cause the teeth to crowd. Additionally, wisdom teeth can be hard to keep clean and your chance of getting gum disease increases. A fully developed wisdom tooth can also cause recession around the adjacent tooth. 

Such as they are, wisdom teeth should be closely monitored by your dentist.    

Should you have them removed?

In some cases, when the wisdom teeth have no effect on the rest of the mouth, there is no need to remove them. Yet, often a dentist will recommend a tooth extraction on one or all of the wisdom teeth.

A tooth extraction is a standard procedure, in which a tooth is removed from its socket in the bone tissue. The timing for removal is critical. It is better to have them removed at a younger age before the risk of periodontal disease increases.

Care after removal

After the extraction of you wisdom teeth, it is important to take care of yourself.

Keeping the area around the tooth clean is crucial to prevent infection or dry socket. Dry socket happens when the blood clot that covers the bone and nerves dissolves. This leaves that area of the mouth exposed to anything that goes through: water, air, food, etc. For these reasons, dry socket can be painful and lead to serious infection.

Fortunately, dry socket is treatable.

Your dentist will want to remove any food debris that may have gotten into the hole. Next, they will fill in the hole with a special paste that will help heal the area.

To learn more about wisdom teeth, contact Dr. Cureton at 831-449-8363. One of our staff members will be ready to assist you.