Wise About Wisdom Teeth

Posted by nmcclees

With age comes wisdom. Also, wisdom teeth. When most people think about wisdom teeth, they think of stories they have heard from family and friends about having them removed, looking like a chipmunk, and getting to drink milkshakes. But what are wisdom teeth? Why do we have them? Should they be kept or removed? We’ll tell you all you need to know here.

About 35% percent of people are born without wisdom teeth. For the rest of the population, wisdom teeth tend to appear between the ages of 17 and 25. They’re called wisdom teeth because they come through at a more mature age than all other molars.

Wisdom teeth are technically third molars. Early humans had more wear on their teeth due to diet. In addition, they seemingly had more space in their mouths. Nowadays, diets are easier on our mouths, and thanks to advanced dental care we have healthier smiles. This doesn’t leave a lot of room for third molars.

When wisdom teeth emerge correctly, they can help you to chew. However, they often lead to problems. According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, an estimated 85% of wisdom teeth will eventually need to be removed. These teeth can lead to problems if there isn’t enough space for them to come through in the correct position. Sometimes this can lead to them becoming impacted, which means they are trapped in the jaw or under the gums. 90% of people have at least one impacted wisdom tooth.

So how do you know if your wisdom teeth should be kept or removed? Your dentist will take several factors into account and work with you to make this determination. Here are some of those factors and the common recommendations:

Keep your wisdom teeth if they are:

• Healthy
• Fully erupted
• Correctly positioned
• Properly biting
• Easy to clean

Extract your wisdom teeth if they:

• Are severely damaged
• Remain within the gums
• Come in crooked
• Emerge only partially
• Crowd nearby teeth

Not sure if your wisdom teeth should be kept or extracted? Come in for a visit. We’ll examine your mouth and take an x-ray. Together, we’ll discuss the best course of treatment for you. And don’t worry, if it is determined your wisdom teeth should be removed, you won’t become any less wise!