Wisdom Teeth
- What are wisdom teeth?
- Why is there often not enough space for the wisdom teeth?
- What is an impacted wisdom tooth?
- Should wisdom teeth be extracted?
- What problems make extraction of a wisdom tooth necessary?
- Who should remove impacted wisdom teeth?
1. What are wisdom teeth?
- Wisdom teeth are the third and last molar teeth to form and erupt into the mouth.
- They erupt or come into the mouth between the ages of 17 and 21.
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2. Why is there often not enough space for the wisdom teeth?
- The jaw size may be too small.
- The tooth sizes may be too large.
Evolutionary changes have led to a tendency towards smaller jaws.
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3. What is an impacted wisdom tooth?
- An impacted tooth is one that is prevented from growing into its normal position.
Other teeth, bone or gum may be the cause of the obstruction.
Impacted wisdom teeth |
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Impacted tooth
lying horizontally |
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4. Should wisdom teeth be extracted?
- Only impacted wisdom teeth that cause pain or other problems need to be removed.
- Not all impacted wisdom teeth need to be removed.
- Impacted teeth that are dormant and are not a problem should be left alone.
- The removal of deeply impacted teeth can damage nerves in the area.
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5. What problems make extraction of a wisdom tooth necessary?
- The symptoms below may require the removal of a wisdom tooth:
- Severe, constant pain from an impacted wisdom tooth.
- Frequent infection around the wisdom tooth.
- A pericoronitis around a partially erupted wisdom tooth.
- Decay in the wisdom tooth that cannot be repaired.
- Peridontal disease around the adjacent tooth, caused by the wisdom tooth.
- The wisdom tooth may cause other problems to the tooth next to it.
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6. Who should remove impacted wisdom teeth?
- The general dentist is able to extract wisdom teeth that are not expected to be too difficult to remove.
- Badly Impacted wisdom teeth are usually extracted by oral surgeons.
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