Third molars, or wisdom teeth, between the ages of 17 and 21. Some people never develop wisdom teeth. For some, their wisdom teeth will erupt normally and not cause any problems. If your wisdom teeth doesn't have enough space to grow, or erupt in a wrong position (impacted wisdom teeth) its is likely that you need to have it pulled. It’s normal to feel a little discomfort when your wisdom teeth appear, but if you have pain, you should see your dentist immediately.
Your wisdom teeth can cause many problems:
Wisdom teeth can trap food, providing cavity-causing bacteria a place to grow.
Wisdom teeth that haven’t come in properly can make it difficult to floss between the wisdom teeth and the molars next to them.
Due to the way your wisdom teeth grows in, bacteria can enter the gums and cause an infection. This may also lead to pain, swelling and stiffness in your jaw.
Wisdom teeth that don’t have room to come through are thought by some to crowd or damage neighboring teeth.
An impacted wisdom tooth can form a cyst on or near the impacted tooth. This could damage the roots of nearby teeth and the bone that supports your teeth.
Your wisdom teeth may need to be removed if they lead to:
Pain
Infection
Cysts
Tumors
Damage to neighboring teeth
Gum disease
Tooth decay (if it is not possible or desirable to restore the tooth)
Wisdom teeth that are not removed should continue to be monitored because the potential for developing problems later on still exists. To prevent potential problems, it is recommended to remove impacted wisdom teeth even if they aren't currently causing problems.
Brian Y. Kuo DDS FAGD
(626) 800-8022
🦉 Give us a call if you have any questions regarding your wisdom teeth!