Babies are born without teeth and they grow in over the first few years. In elementary school, these “baby teeth” get loose and fall out in order for your adult teeth to grow in. Around middle school, you have another round of molars. Then…closer to adulthood, you have even more teeth coming in! Why does this happen? After all, you’re doing just fine eating without any more teeth. These are your wisdom teeth.
Third molars, also known as wisdom teeth, are the final permanent teeth to erupt. There are a total of four that sprout in the very back of your mouth, one on each side of the top and bottom. You’ll most likely see them come in between the ages of 17 and 21. The most common time for problems or pain to emerge is between the ages of 15 to 25, and most people don’t have difficulty with wisdom teeth after they’re 30.
As wisdom teeth erupt, most people experience minor discomfort that will go away once the tooth has fully emerged. Some lucky people may experience no symptoms at all, while others experience soreness or pain. This pain can usually be relieved with over-the-counter pain relievers, as it isn’t too severe. However, lingering pain, the feeling of pressure in your back jaw or gum swelling in the area could point to problems with eruption. For some people, the jaw is simply not big enough to accommodate yet another large tooth. What happens then?
This is why many people end up having their wisdom teeth removed. A study published in the British Journal of General Practice concludes that 80 percent of people will need to have their wisdom teeth extracted. That is nearly all of us! Why is this? There are many reasons your Houston, TX dentist may advise an extraction.
A common reason to extract these teeth is because they are impacted, which means that a tooth is unable to break through the gums. This situation can cause a lot of pain, swelling, and even infection. Signs of an impacted wisdom tooth include ongoing pain, plus red and swollen gums. Wisdom teeth can crowd the mouth and make it harder to clean, which can lead to plaque buildup, decay, or gum disease. After all, it’s pretty hard to get back there!
If you or your teen are maintaining your regular dental appointments, you don’t need to worry. Any issues will be seen and dealt with if they need intervention. For any and all questions regarding your wisdom teeth, those in Houston, TX can call upon the friendly experts at Complete Dental. We’re here for you! If you need your wisdom teeth to be looked at, we’d be happy to do it. Contact us by calling (281) 449-1053. If you’re in pain right now, be sure to tell our team members that so we can see you as soon as possible. If you have a general question or would like to be seen sometime soon but it isn’t an emergency, you can also contact our Houston, TX dentists by filling out the easy contact form on our website.