Have you ever thought about how wisdom teeth got that moniker?
Unlike your baby teeth, which came in before you were 3, and your adult teeth, which started erupting at age 6 or 7, your wisdom teeth don’t erupt until you’re between 17 and 25 — when it’s assumed that we’re older and wiser — at least we hope this is true!
These final teeth, also known as third molars, are a bit of an evolutionary remnant. Millions of years ago, we needed these teeth and stronger jaws to masticate hard-to-chew foods like plants and raw meat. With the advent of softer, cooked foods, our jaws became smaller, and we needed these third molars less and less. In fact, about a quarter of people today are missing at least one of their wisdom teeth.
Although most people who have their wisdom teeth removed are older teens or young adults, people older than 25 need them removed often as well. But is there ever a time in your life when you have to worry that you’ll be out of the running for wisdom teeth extraction?
Our team of dental experts consults with patients of all ages about their wisdom teeth. At Expressions in Dentistry, we’re committed to providing the care you need in the least intrusive, most comfortable way, no matter what your age.
Your wisdom teeth are way back in your mouth, behind your first and second molars, in both the upper and lower jaw.
Though some lucky people never experience a moment of pain or problems with their wisdom teeth, about 85% of people need them removed at some point.
The reason why is that wisdom teeth often become crowded when they erupt. Without sufficient room, they become impacted and problems arise, such as:
You may even have a harder time opening your mouth wide.
Having your wisdom teeth can also cause future dental issues, like tooth crowding and decay in other teeth if the crowding makes them harder to keep clean.
Wisdom teeth can erupt in strange ways and at odd angles too, so even if you can’t see your wisdom tooth because it hasn’t erupted or isn’t fully erupted, that doesn’t mean you can’t experience persistent painful symptoms.
Fortunately, no. Although many dentists advise wisdom teeth removal before a patient experiences any problems, most patients who have them removed are in the age range we mentioned earlier — older teens and young adults.
If you’re in your 30s, solidly experiencing middle age, or a senior, there still may come a time when your dentist advises your wisdom teeth be removed, especially if you start to notice pain and other unpleasant symptoms.
Though it’s true that young people are better at “bouncing back,” there’s no reason an older adult can’t have a positive experience with wisdom teeth removal.
One advantage of being an older patient? You know yourself better and can discuss with your Expressions in Dentistry provider if you’d like local or general anesthesia for your removal procedure, or sedation dentistry. It’s up to you, and we’ll discuss in detail with you about how you’d like your experience to go, ensuring that you don’t experience pain or worry.
Most patients come through their wisdom teeth extraction procedure with flying colors because it’s a simple, frequently done outpatient procedure that we have much experience with performing.
The procedure itself is pretty straightforward — your dentist makes minute incisions in your gums that fully expose your wisdom teeth. Sometimes, they remove an entire tooth, while at other times, removal may involve extracting multiple pieces of each wisdom tooth.
What follows the removal is a scrupulous cleaning of your surgical sites and then suturing your incisions.
Because of the anesthesia, you’re required to have a driver come with you, wait during the procedure, and drive you home where you can get comfortable and address any post-procedure discomfort. Most people experience some pain, swelling, and mild bleeding in the days following wisdom teeth removal, but these side effects abate quickly.
Since you don’t want to have to go through extraction again in the future, it’s best to have all your wisdom teeth out at once, not unlike ripping the proverbial bandage off the wound.
Call our Folsom office at 916-983-6767 to learn more about wisdom teeth removal — especially if you aren’t a kid anymore — or book an appointment with us online.
