Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to develop and appear in your mouth. They appear between the ages of 17 and 25, a time of life that has been called the "Age of Wisdom."
Wisdom teeth can grow in completely providing painless, disease-free chewing function. They do, however, require regular, professional cleaning, annual check-ups and periodic X-rays to monitor for any changes.
When a tooth doesn't fully grow in, it's "impacted"–usually unable or partially breaking through the gums because there isn't enough room. Statistically, 90% of people have at least one impacted wisdom tooth.
“90% of population have at least ONE impacted wisdom tooth”
What should I do with my wisdom teeth?
If you are experiencing discomfort or dull ache from your lower jaw, something sinister might be brewing quietly.
Impacted wisdom tooth can :
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Damage neighboring teeth and get infected
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Due to it's hard to clean location, it can harbor bacteria that lead to gum disease.
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Oral bacteria potentially travel through your bloodstream and lead to infections and illnesses that affect your heart, kidneys and other organs.
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Form a cyst or tumor around the base of the impacted tooth
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Potentially leading to more serious problems as it hollows out the jaw and damages surrounding nerves, teeth and other parts of your mouth and face.
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Essentially, wisdom teeth should be surgically removed when there are:
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Infections and/or periodontal (gum) disease
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Cavities that can’t be restored
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Cysts, tumors or other pathologies
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Damage to neighboring teeth