Wisdom Teeth are No Cause For Alarm

Wisdom Teeth It seems that most people simply don't have enough room in their mouths for those molars. I only know one friend who hasn't had to go through the ordeal of having those teeth extracted. My friend considered himself a more evolved human being as his Wisdom Tooth never even grew in!

Wisdom is the common term used to refer to third year molars. There is one in each of the four corners of your mouth, and they don't try to grow in until your late teens or early twenties. Why are they called wisdom? Because they come in at the time when we reach adulthood, and supposedly have gained in wisdom.

Very often, these molars become impacted as they grow in. In simple terms, this means that they get stuck or trapped in place because of the jawbone. There just isn't enough space in most people's mouths to accommodate them.

If they do not have enough space to grow into place, it is very important that they be removed. They will continue to grow, sometimes in a slanted direction. They are pushy! They will keep growing no matter what is in the way. This can cause significant damage to your other molars, as well as pain and swelling.

Most dentists recommend that they are removed during the teenage years, and that we not wait until we are older. The reason for this is that the bones are a little softer when we are younger, and they are easier to remove.

When people wait to have them removed, the recovery can be a little more difficult. If you aren't sure about the status of your wisdom teeth, be sure to ask your dentist to check your most recent x-rays. He or she can easily see their progress and let you know what to expect.

The procedure to remove them isn't so bad. With a little anesthesia, the surgery is over before you know it. The hardest part of the whole procedure is the after care! Your surgeon will give you specific instructions telling you how to care for your mouth.

There is no reason to be afraid of having them extracted as the procedure is very routine. Oral surgeons perform literally thousands of them each year. With so much practice, you can rest easy that your surgeon will be well prepared to take handle your extraction.

Also read our article about Surgery for Wisdom Teeth Extraction