Wisdom Teeth

With age comes wisdom. Or so they say. With age does come wisdom teeth.

The third molars are called wisdom teeth only because they tend to appear between the ages of 17 and 21 – when you are supposed to be wiser. These molars erupt in the back of the mouth, two in the top and two in the bottom. These four teeth complete the set of 32 adult teeth, although some people will not have all 4 wisdom teeth. While that is a normal condition, no one knows why.

The wisdom teeth are also the teeth that cause the most problems. There are approximately 10 million wisdom teeth extractions perform every year in the United States. Impaction is the #1 reason for removal. Impaction happens when there is not enough room for the new teeth to emerge, so they begin pushing up under the already existing teeth.

Another issue is crowding. If there is not enough room for them, the other teeth will be moved to fit them in. Crowded teeth that do not require the existing teeth to move are hard to clean, as a toothbrush will not fit behind them. Without proper cleaning, plaque will build up and lead to decay and cavities.

Baum Dental Clinic in Mineral Wells, Texas, can help you with your wisdom teeth problems.