Permanent molars emerge in stages as we age, with the first set making an appearance around six years old and the second set at about twelve. The final set, known as the wisdom teeth, usually appears much later, typically emerging when individuals are between 17 and 25 years old. It’s common for adults to have four wisdom teeth, though there are exceptions where some individuals have none or more than four. During routine dental check-ups, your dentist will keep an eye on the development of your wisdom teeth through dental x-rays to ensure they’re growing in as expected.
Wisdom Teeth Complications
A significant number of individuals experience complications with their wisdom teeth, often due to inadequate space in the mouth for them to fully erupt. This can result in gum issues and a failure to emerge correctly from the gum line.
As per a report by the Canadian Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons (CAOMS), an overwhelming majority—85%—of individuals with wisdom teeth will need them removed at some point.
If overlooked, unerupted or improperly positioned wisdom teeth can result in several dental challenges, including a misaligned bite.
Besides, the position of wisdom teeth often makes them hard to reach with routine dental care. Therefore, to avoid future decay and infections, even non-impacted wisdom teeth might be extracted by dentists. Removal is often the recommended course of action by dental professionals to prevent future complications.
Wisdom Tooth Removal Criteria
A comprehensive evaluation of your oral health, which includes a detailed study of mouth imagery, will help your dentist ascertain whether your wisdom teeth might lead to trouble. If wisdom teeth are trapped beneath the gum and bone (impacted), it may prompt an array of dental issues, potentially causing infection, damage to neighboring teeth, periodontal disease, cyst development, or even the possibility of benign tumors.