Wisdom teeth are a third set of molars that usually emerge between the age of 17 and 21. The thinking is that, when human beings ate a lot of raw meat, roots, and vegetables, they would require a third set of molars in early adulthood. As human beings have evolved, the need for this third set of molars has disappeared. The change in our diets and the elimination of some of our historical hunting habits has made wisdom teeth unnecessary.
Our diets and hunting habits aren’t the only things that have changed over millennia. So too has the size of our jawbones. Today, our jaw bones are smaller than they were in human beings millennia ago. That gradual shrinking of our jaw bones has one serious consequence. Not only do we not need wisdom teeth anymore, there just isn’t usually enough room in our jaws for them anyway. That lack of extra space in your jaw means that wisdom teeth often come in crooked or twist and shift teeth already present in the jaw. In some cases, wisdom teeth don’t erupt at all, but get stuck underneath other teeth in whole or in part.
Because of the potential consequences of unnecessary wisdom teeth emerging into an already-full jaw with 28 teeth, many dentists recommend wisdom teeth removal in SW Calgary on a preventative basis. Since you don’t need them and they’re likely to cause problems, the thinking is, why not remove them?
There are four types of problems that can arise with the emergence of wisdom teeth. All of these are reasons that dentists often recommend wisdom teeth removal near you.
Wisdom teeth can become impacted
An impacted wisdom tooth is one that gets stuck beneath your gums and grows at an unusual angle. When a wisdom tooth does get impacted, it can cause: bleeding and tender gums; pain in your jaw; a swollen and stiff jaw; bad breath; and problems opening your jaw.
Wisdom teeth can cause overcrowding
In a jaw that already contains 28 teeth, there sometimes isn’t room for four more in the form of wisdom teeth. When overcrowding up the arrival of wisdom teeth pushes other teeth out of alignment, those crooked teeth can’t be straightened with braces or Invisalign. Teeth will have to be extracted.
Wisdom teeth can cause sinus problems
The growth of your wisdom teeth in the upper jaw can interfere with the sinuses in the upper part of your face. Interference with sinuses by wisdom teeth is not a common problem, but a potentially serious one that can cause sinus pain, sinus pressure, congestion, and headaches. Having wisdom teeth extracted at a dental clinic before they cause problems can eliminate these potential issues.
Wisdom teeth can cause cavities and gum disease
The overcrowding of your teeth upon the eruption of wisdom teeth can, due to dislocation and twisting, create all kinds of nooks and crannies where food particles and bacteria can accumulate and linger beyond the reach of tooth brushing and flossing. That inability to keep the teeth at the rear of your mouth clean through daily oral hygiene habits can result in advanced tooth decay and gum disease that can spread beyond your wisdom teeth.
Wisdom teeth extraction at a dental clinic in SW Calgary is an invasive procedure, it’s true. Nevertheless, it is one that is regularly recommended by dentists to eliminate the risks of all of these problems without any loss of any important teeth. For a careful review of your oral health and to develop a treatment plan for the extraction of your wisdom teeth, you should consult with a dentist between the age of 16 and 19. The longer you wait, the harder the procedure will become. When is the ideal time to have wisdom teeth extracted? Before any of these problems arise.