Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom Teeth are the third molars. It was called so
because it usually develops at the age of 18 to 20 years, the age
which is
considered as the period when a person matures and gains wisdom. It is normal
for each person to have three molars in each quadrant of the mouth. The first
molar grows at the age of six years; the second molar grows at the age of 12
years. The third molar or wisdom tooth is not different from other teeth except
for being the last to grow in the mouth. It is just as useful as other teeth if
it develops properly, interacts properly with other teeth, and has healthy gums
around it. Sadly, this is not always the case.
In some cases, wisdom teeth do not properly erupt from the
mouth or the teeth have surfaced and have no room in the mouth to grow. These
cases are called impacted wisdom teeth. This may occur if the tooth erupts too
early in a person’s dental development, which leads to the improper growth of
the tooth. Impaction of wisdom teeth is the most common medical developmental
disorder. Impacted teeth can cause problems such as:
- Infection
- Decay of neighboring teeth
- Gum disease
- Development of cyst or tumor from the follicle
Impacted teeth can be detected via dental X-ray. Sometimes,
erupted third molars still need to be extracted. It may be due to the tooth
being non-functional, badly decayed, or interferes with the function of adjacent
teeth. Under developed third molars, usually appearing in adolescence, are
usually extracted to prevent future complications.
A lot of oral health specialists are inclined to recommend the
extraction of wisdom teeth. This is done to prevent the development of oral
problems later on in life. Removal involves entry to an ideal position to the
tooth through the sot and hard tissue, gently severing the connective tissue in
between the tooth and bone, thus, extracting the third molar.