When Do Wisdom Teeth Come In?
Wisdom teeth usually begin to emerge during the mid to late teenage years, though it can be well into your late twenties. If you or your child has had braces, you are probably familiar with the third set of molars and having your Timber Dental Care dentist track their development. But if you feel like there are new teeth growing behind your last set of molars, you need to make an appointment to have them assessed.
What’s Wrong With Having Wisdom Teeth?
On their own, there is nothing actually wrong with wisdom teeth. But when new molars emerge they are typically crooked, pushing against adjacent teeth, or they don’t fully emerge because there isn’t enough space in the jaw. They can cause pain, inflammation and even lead to decay in otherwise healthy teeth because of how difficult they are to clean!
Do They Need To Be Removed?
A small percentage of people don’t have problems with their wisdom teeth. But for most people, they often don’t come in well. Impacted third molars push against the roots of other healthy teeth, which can be very painful. Other molars that only come in part of the way are difficult to clean and allow food particles and bacteria to build up under the gums. This can cause decay in adjacent tooth and bone structures. In these cases, it is better to proactively remove the teeth.