Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last permanent teeth to erupt at the back of the mouth. They emerge last when all other teeth are in place and are, therefore, more likely to be impacted. However, in some people, Wisdom Teeth Jasper emerges normally without causing problems and lines up with other teeth. Most people have four wisdom teeth – two on the upper jaw and the other on the bottom, but some have none. Read on to explore other interesting facts about wisdom teeth.
Wisdom teeth can cause problems
Wisdom teeth or third molars usually appear between the ages of 17 to 25 after all other permanent teeth have emerged. Although it is different from person to person, these teeth often cause problems when they come in. For most people, the jaw is crowded, so the wisdom teeth don’t have adequate space to break through the gums. As such, they become impacted or partially erupt, causing a flap in the mouth that traps germs. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause damage to other teeth; if the wisdom tooth pushes against the second molar, it may cause damage and increase the risk of infection in that area.
A wisdom tooth can also develop in a sac within the jawbone, filling with fluid and forming a cyst. Because impacted teeth are difficult to clean, they increase the risk of developing gum disease and tooth decay.
You can’t prevent wisdom teeth
There is no way to prevent wisdom teeth from emerging or an impaction from occurring. However, your dentist can help monitor the growth and emergence of your wisdom teeth. Therefore, you want to keep the regular six-month dental appointments for cleanings and checkups. Frequent updated X-rays may indicate impacted wisdom teeth before they become symptomatic.
Some people may never get wisdom teeth
During the prehistoric period, the diet consisted of roots, raw meats, leaves, and other foraged foods. As such, the people needed strong teeth to cut these foods and having these extra teeth served as an advantage. But since then, human beings have evolved to a more refined menu, and wisdom teeth are not needed. Sometimes wisdom teeth don’t erupt, but an X-ray can confirm if you have wisdom teeth beneath your gums. Wisdom teeth will likely have the same fate as the appendix and become completely unnecessary.
However, most adults today still develop wisdom teeth, men being more likely to have them than women.
The number of wisdom teeth varies from person to person
Most people have four wisdom teeth – two on the upper jaw and the other on the bottom. However, some get three, two, one, or none. Although rare, an individual can get more than four wisdom teeth; the extra are called supernumerary teeth. The number of wisdom teeth you also develop significantly depends on your genes. According to research, at least 53% of people have at least one wisdom tooth emerge.
Wisdom teeth can have a varying number of roots
Roots are the part of your teeth that form and then push the bud through your gums. In most cases, wisdom teeth have two to three roots but can have more. For this reason, if you need to remove your wisdom teeth, the process is easier before the roots take hold. However, the teeth require some roots because removing a tiny tooth bid can be difficult for surgeons.
If you have questions about wisdom teeth, consult your oral health professional at Advanced Dental Care of East Texas.
