The teeth are one of the essential parts of the body responsible for helping you chew, bite, and talk properly. It also constantly evolves as you grow older, such that you may either develop or lose some of them due to varying reasons. These common instances include having your wisdom teeth.
Your wisdom teeth or third molars develop between 17 and 21 years old. It is usually the last set of teeth to grow in your mouth, which is why some people assume it emerges at an age where you have more wisdom.
Why Do Wisdom Teeth Exist?
In the early years, the human diet consisted of uncooked meat and vegetables that were difficult to chew. Wisdom teeth helped cut these types of food into smaller pieces to make it easier to swallow. But in this day and age, people know how to cook their food to make it softer and require less effort when eating.
But as humans learned to adapt to this kind of lifestyle, their bodies also adjusted, and people developed smaller jaw sizes. For that reason, some people may not have enough space to accommodate their third molars, leading to impacted wisdom teeth.
What Are Impacted Wisdom Teeth?
It refers to your wisdom teeth that get stuck under your gums because there is no space for them to erupt on the surface. As such, they may grow in a different direction, affecting the rest of your teeth. They are also prone to tooth decay, gum infection, and other diseases. Some of the symptoms you may encounter are:
- Pain in the jaw area
- Swollen or bleeding gums
- Having trouble opening your mouth
- Bad breath
Do They Need To Be Removed?
Having impacted wisdom teeth is one of the common reasons your third molars need to be removed. For that, you will have to undergo wisdom teeth removal surgery. In this procedure, an oral surgeon will administer local anesthesia before making an incision on your gums to extract the tooth. With proper care, the recovery time after the operation typically takes around three to fourteen days.
On the other hand, if your wisdom teeth are healthy, your dentist may suggest retaining them. This means your third molars have fully erupted on your gums and are positioned correctly.
Ask Your Dentist
The only way to be sure if you need to have your wisdom teeth extracted is by consulting with a dentist. If you need to speak with a reliable dental care provider, reach out to us at Afdent Patient Friendly Dentistry. Call our dental offices in Mishawaka and Fort Wayne to learn more about our services.