Your third set of molars — your wisdom teeth — make their debut much later in life than the rest of your teeth. In fact, their late arrival is a major reason so many people need to have these teeth removed. Because your jaw is finished growing by the time your wisdom teeth show up, you simply might not have the space to accommodate them.
When should you expect these last molars to break through your gums? And, perhaps more important, when do you need to decide whether or not to remove them? At A&N Dental in Tempe, Arizona, our team of wisdom teeth extraction specialists is here to help through each step of the process.
But to get you started, we wanted to offer a general wisdom-tooth timeline.
When wisdom teeth grow in
Usually, wisdom teeth arrive between the ages of 17 and 21, although they can show up earlier or later than that. This doesn’t mean the teeth form in your late teens, though. Actually, by the time they start to push through your gums, your body has been slowly developing this third set of molars for about a decade.
Unfortunately, wisdom teeth often don’t grow in without issue. It’s very common for these teeth to get impacted, which means the tooth can’t break through the gum. This might happen because:
- There isn’t space along your jaw to fit the additional tooth
- The wisdom teeth grow in at an angle
- The tooth gets trapped under your gum
Additionally, even when the tooth can break through the gums, allowing it to do so could cause other problems. In many cases, the wisdom tooth would crowd surrounding teeth, pushing them out of alignment and giving you a crooked smile.
The bottom line is that not all wisdom teeth need to be extracted, but many do. Our A&N Dental team can help you decide if you should get your wisdom teeth out and, if so, when.
When to get your wisdom teeth removed
There’s no specific age at which you should have your wisdom teeth extracted. Instead, our team recommends extraction only when it’s clear the wisdom teeth could present a problem for the health or appearance of your smile.
If you suspect your wisdom teeth might be impacted, come visit us. Some symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth include:
- Jaw pain
- Bleeding gums
- Trouble chewing or pain while chewing
- Bad breath
- Gum tenderness
- An odd taste in your mouth
If your wisdom teeth are impacted, we can remove them to put a stop to your discomfort.
It’s also important that you come in for your biannual visit. That way, our team can check your wisdom teeth. If we see them starting to come in and crowd your other teeth, we can extract them to protect your smile.
Ultimately, you don’t have to decide when to get our wisdom teeth out. Visit our office regularly and we can make sure these extra molars never pose a problem for you. That said, if you’re experiencing any symptoms of impacted teeth, call our office in Tempe, Arizona, or book your appointment online today.
Dental practitioners deal with issues regarding wisdom teeth regularly. Patients often have wisdom teeth that need removing. But, if wisdom teeth are so troublesome, why do we get them?
Keep reading as we discuss the wisdom tooth phenomenon – including when to expect your wisdom teeth to come in, why we have wisdom teeth and the wisdom teeth removal process.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are molars, your most robust type of tooth. They are designed to help grind down tough pieces of food to make it easy to swallow. Some people develop wisdom teeth, while others do not. Wisdom teeth are the most commonly absent teeth in the adult mouth, probably because we have evolved as a species over the years and may not have the exact requirements we once needed to survive.
Wisdom teeth come in later than our other adult teeth, and it can be pretty painful when they emerge. In addition, not all wisdom teeth grow straight or in the correct position. A condition when wisdom teeth grow into the other teeth is called impaction. Due to the commonality of impaction, wisdom teeth removal is a standard procedure. One of the main reasons impaction occurs is because the wisdom tooth does not have enough gum room to grow through, causing it to grow in another direction.
Some other issues you might encounter with your wisdom teeth include:
- Infections and cavities caused by plaque buildup.
- Lesions.
- The tooth may impact your ability to brush and floss other teeth properly.
- The wisdom tooth might cause bone loss at the roots and damage your other teeth.
- When the wisdom tooth grows, it is surrounded by a sack of tissue. This tissue could form a cyst which may damage your jaw.
- If the tooth grows inside the gum, this could be detrimental to the roots of your other teeth.
- If the tooth only emerges partly, this could encourage the growth of plaque and bacteria.
If you are experiencing pain when your wisdom teeth come in, it’s a good idea to seek the advice of a dentist. They will be able to perform a dental X-ray that will provide more insight into how your wisdom teeth are growing. They will likely recommend a wisdom tooth extraction procedure if they detect an issue with your teeth in a regular checkup.
Can You Get Wisdom Teeth When You Are In Your 30’s?
Wisdom teeth usually emerge between the ages of 17 and 25. The name ‘wisdom teeth’ was given to these molars because they come in while a person is at a mature age. It is incredibly uncommon for adults to get wisdom teeth past 30. However, many people have their wisdom teeth emerge in their late 20s and up until their 30s.
If you are in your 30s and still haven’t had your wisdom teeth, you shouldn’t worry. Many people do not develop wisdom teeth, which can cause complex issues when they emerge. If you have healthy wisdom teeth in your 30s and have experienced no problems, then it is likely that you won’t have any further issues with them.
Do We Need Wisdom Teeth?
When humans first evolved, we did not have knives, forks, and other utensils to break food down into bitesise pieces. Instead, we had to chew meats and other foods to break them into digestible chunks. For this, we required a large jaw and plenty of chewing power – hence, we had wisdom teeth. Since there was no toothpaste in these early times, humans likely suffered tooth loss regularly. By having extra teeth grow later in life, we could retain our chewing power for as long as possible.
Are There Side Effects Of Wisdom Teeth Removal?
When your wisdom teeth are removed, you can expect to feel some pain after the procedure. In addition, there will likely be some residual bleeding on the first day of your recovery. In the next few days following the process, you can expect some bruising and swelling. You should refrain from brushing your teeth or using mouthwash after the procedure, as this could aggravate your surgical wound. Instead, it’s recommended that you rinse your mouth with salt water at least once every 24 hours after the process.
Once you have had your procedure, you should ask a friend or family member for a ride home. You may still be tired or dizzy from the anaesthetic, and you may not be able to drive. Use an ice pack to reduce any swelling or inflammation in the area, avoid alcohol, and drink plenty of water after the procedure.
Summary
Wisdom teeth can come anytime between the ages of 17 and 25 and even well into your late 20s. You should+n’t expect to see your wisdom teeth come past the age of 30, as this is highly uncommon. Some people experience issues with their wisdom teeth when they come in and need an extraction. Speak to your local Maroubra Dentist if you think your wisdom teeth are coming through to get them checked out.