Important Facts About Wisdom Teeth

by Ziva Dental The Best Dental Clinic in San Antonio, TX

Wisdom teeth are third molars that generally erupt between the age of 17 to 25 years. A majority of people have to deal with wisdom teeth at some point. So, let’s take a look at some interesting facts about wisdom teeth.

Why do we have wisdom teeth?

For earlier humans, wisdom teeth played a necessary role because they had a tough diet that includes leaves, meat, and roots which could lead to teeth wearing down faster and so they needed third-row molars. Over time, the type of food we consume has changed drastically and so third molars are no longer required.

As a result of evolution, some people never develop wisdom teeth while some do develop and don’t face any problems. According to studies, around 85 percent of the people who have third-row molars will have to have them extracted.

How can wisdom teeth cause problems?

With evolution, humans have developed smaller jaws than our ancestors. Due to this reason, we do not have enough space in our mouths to accommodate third-row molars. So, when wisdom teeth erupt it can crowd our teeth, causing cosmetic problems such as misaligned teeth or crooked teeth that could lead to issues like pain in jaw, irritation in mouth, swollen gums, and increased risk of gum disease.

Also, there are high chances that wisdom teeth may get impacted. This happens when your teeth are misaligned and there is not enough space in your mouth for them to erupt properly. So if your wisdom teeth are causing problems, your dentist will recommend wisdom teeth removal in San Antonio to avoid further complications.

How to know if I should get my wisdom teeth pulled?

Wisdom teeth do not necessarily have to be pulled in all cases. You only need to get rid of them if they are causing problems.

During your routine dental appointments with your dentist in San Antonio, TX, you will be able to determine if your wisdom tooth is problematic or not. Jaw pain, swollen gums or a weird taste at the backside of your mouth are some signs. However, you could know more precisely about the growth of your wisdom teeth in a dental x-ray. It will indicate if they are erupting properly and if there is enough space for them to erupt.

Almost 35 percent of the population do not develop wisdom teeth as a result of evolution. For those who have wisdom teeth, it won’t cause problems in all cases. So only if your wisdom teeth is a threat to your oral health, you need to get them pulled.

Wisdom teeth extraction is a common process and many patients have to go through it. So, if you or your dentist are suspecting problems with the growth of the wisdom teeth, it is better to address the matter as soon as possible.

For further discussion regarding your tooth extraction in San Antonio, feel free to schedule an appointment with our expert.