All you need to know about wisdom teeth
People usually start losing their baby teeth by the age of 6 to make way for their adult teeth. The first teeth to emerge are usually the central incisors with the lateral incisors following close behind. Subsequently, the first molars emerge, and by age 13, most kids have all their adult teeth saved for the wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth are very irregular and nobody really knows if they are going to emerge without any trouble or if they are going to cause pain. They typically come in between the ages of 17 and 25 years. Some people get all 4 wisdom teeth without any trouble, others get only 2 and do not ever get the remaining 2.
Possible complications in the development of wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth have no specific purpose. They do provide for an extra set of molars on either side of the mouth and this is very useful for grinding food. However, in some people, the jaw is underdeveloped and as a result, the mouth may not be able to accommodate the wisdom teeth .
Signs of wisdom teeth emerging
There are several signs to warn people that their wisdom teeth are emerging. Sometimes, people may experience pain at the back of the mouth but this is not always a sign of wisdom teeth as even temporomandibular joint disorder could be the cause of this pain. Some people also experience an earache as the tooth is trying to move down but there simply is not enough space to do so. This causes pressure on adjacent teeth that gives rise to intense pain. Additionally, if you can make out that your gums are swollen or there are some very conspicuous cuts on the gum, it could be a sign of the wisdom teeth coming.
Handling wisdom teeth
People who experience pain with wisdom teeth should consult a dentist at the earliest. If a cyst or tumor begins to form around the impacted tooth this could lead to decay of the jawbone and will affect surrounding teeth. The resulting treatment will also be costlier and more complicated. In many cases, a dentist will advise an extraction of wisdom teeth. This is a quick and uncomplicated procedure. The patient usually goes home the same day.
