What are wisdom teeth?
“Wisdom teeth,” a rather curious name for teeth if you think
about it, is the folklore name for third molar teeth, which usually makes their
appearance later in life. Wisdom teeth are the upper and lower third molars,
located at the very back of the mouth. They are the third, final set of
molars to come in, and they usually sprout during the late teens to early
twenties. They are called wisdom teeth because usually they come in
between ages 17 and 25.
In the time before modern dentistry, wisdom teeth were usually
present. Due to lack of good dental hygiene and non-availability of preventive
measures, leading to extensive tooth loss thus there by creating plenty of room
to welcome these third molars. Today, dental technology is more advanced than
ever, and adults are able to repair and keep more teeth than they were even
only 50 years ago.
Though it is not possible to
predict the normal eruption of wisdom teeth, as adequate space availability
seems to be paramount to allow for successful eruption. Imaging techniques and
radiographs are most important to assess the same. However, the fact they can
erupt does not guarantee they will. If the normal eruption is compromised, often,
removal is necessary to prevent problems. Roughly
60 to 70 percent of all wisdom teeth will be impacted
Why “wisdom teeth” are so
problematic?
Wisdom teeth are
not, in and of themselves, problematic. It’s the impact they have on the rest
of your mouth and your oral hygiene that’s the issue. You may
have a problem if any of the following occur:
- Your
wisdom teeth break through your gums only partway because of a lack of
space. This can cause a flap of gum tissue to grow over them. The flap can
trap food and lead to a gum infection.
- They
come in crooked or facing the wrong direction.
- Your
jaw isn't large enough to give them room. Your wisdom teeth may get stuck
(impacted)
in your jaw and not be able to break through your gums.
- They
are so far back in your mouth or
crowded that you have trouble cleaning around them.
Effect
Of Impacted Wisdom Teeth
The most common consequences of impacted wisdom teeth are
periodontal (gum; “perio” – around; “odont” – tooth) problems and are the most
frequent consideration for their removal. Their presence can adversely affect
the periodontal tissues of the adjacent second molars by disrupting the
periodontal tissue attachment (the mechanism that anchors the teeth in their
surrounding bone) — leading to their loss by predisposing them to bacterial,
plaque-induced, periodontal disease. They can also damage to adjacent tooth
roots due to caries and formation of pocket.
Painless: One
interesting fact is that in most cases, impacted teeth can exist quite
asymptomatically; in other words, you wouldn't even know they are there, let
alone causing problems. However, impacted, submerged, third molar teeth interrupt
vital structures: in the lower jaw, like the nerves that supplies sensation or
in the upper jaw, impacting or entering into the sinus. Conclusively, these
teeth are located where they're not supposed to be, yet are causing no pain.
Painful: On other
occasions, they will really let you know they are there with a painful
pericoronitis (“peri” – around; “corona” – crown; “itis” – inflammation). This
is an acute inflammation and infection of the surrounding gum tissues that
typically occurs with a partially erupted, lower wisdom tooth. It is
temporarily treated with medications. Since this condition is likely to be
recurrent, it is important to have the affected tooth or teeth evaluated for
removal.
Impacted teeth results
in pain also can result in other unpleasant side effects, including:
- Infection
- Swelling
- Bleeding of the tissue around the
tooth
- Bad breath
Impacted teeth cannot grow in
properly, and so dentists will recommend their removal in most cases.
