Most people have four wisdom teeth – two on top and two on the bottom. Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt in your mouth, typically between the ages of 17 and 25. Many people don’t know what wisdom teeth are or why they exist. In this blog post, we will discuss the purpose of wisdom teeth, when they erupt, and how to tell if they are coming in. We will also explain why most wisdom teeth need to be extracted and discuss the different types of extractions.
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are your third molars and are the last teeth to erupt in your mouth. They typically come in between the ages of 17 and 25. It is believed that wisdom teeth once existed to help us chew tough food, but they are no longer necessary for surviving on a modern diet. In fact, the oral cavity has evolved to be smaller and most people have wisdom teeth that need to be extracted because they don’t have enough room in their mouths for them.
When wisdom teeth don’t have enough room to come in, they are said to be impacted. There are three types of impactions:
-Soft tissue impaction: The tooth is covered by gum tissue and has not erupted through the gum line.
-Partial bony impaction: The tooth has partially erupted through the gum line but is blocked by bone.
-Complete bony impaction: The tooth has not erupted through the gum line and is completely blocked by bone.
Signs of Wisdom Teeth Eruption
Most people will experience some symptoms of wisdom tooth eruption once their wisdom teeth start to erupt. The most common symptoms are:
- pain, swelling, and redness in the gum tissue
- discomfort when chewing or biting down
- bad breath or bad taste in the mouth
- pus or discharge coming from the back of the mouth
- pain felt deep in the jaw
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, then it is likely due to your wisdom teeth erupting. While some wisdom teeth may erupt with no problems, impacted wisdom teeth can cause a variety of complications. For this reason, it is important to see a dentist if you suspect your wisdom teeth are erupting.
Your dentist will perform and exam of your mouth and take x-rays to determine if your wisdom teeth are impacted and need to be extracted.
Do I need an extraction?
Most wisdom teeth need to be extracted because they are impacted. There are two types of extractions: simple and surgical. Both types of extractions are performed using dental sedation and anesthetics. A simple extraction is when the tooth is visible in the mouth and can be removed with forceps. A surgical extraction is when the tooth is not visible in the mouth and requires cutting through the gum tissue to remove it. Surgical extractions are more complex and usually require more dental sedation.
In Conclusion
In this blog, we have discussed wisdom teeth – what they are, when they come in, and why they need to be extracted. We hope that this has helped you understand more about wisdom teeth and how to tell if they are coming in. If you are experiencing any symptoms of wisdom tooth eruption, then we recommend seeing a dentist as soon as possible.
We hope this blog post has helped you learn more about wisdom teeth! If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We would be happy to help!
