As human beings, we have evolved from the Stone Age and while this evolution takes hundreds of thousands of years, we are gradually changing our genetic make-up to suit the current living environment. Darwin got it right when he grasped the fact that all living things are in a constant state of development and for Homo Sapiens, the third set of molar teeth are not really required. Gone are the days when you use your teeth to rip meat from bones and we eat processed foods that do not require intensive grinding, which is why the wisdom teeth (named as they usually erupt in the early 20s, when we have more wisdom) are often removed.
Overcrowding
Simply put, there is usually inadequate space for this last set of molars to fully erupt and removing the wisdom teeth creates space that enables other teeth to form correctly. This might typically occur through a bite issue, either over or underbite. If the wisdom teeth partially erupt, this will bring pain and discomfort and a visit to the dentist is the best solution.
Reasons For Wisdom Teeth Removal
Most people have 4 wisdom teeth, yet a person could have none or several and when a wisdom tooth becomes impacted, it affects the growth pattern of the other teeth. Reasons for wisdom teeth extraction include the following:
- Partially impacted with other teeth
- Repeated infection of soft gum tissue that surrounds the erupting tooth
- Damage to nearby teeth
- Severe tooth decay
- Gum disease
With affordable wisdom teeth removal North Shore & Sydney dentists offer, you can have the offending molars extracted by an experienced dentist. Although, he or she would first need to assess the situation before recommending removal.
Can I Keep My Wisdom Teeth?
The reasons to leave wisdom teeth include:
- Adequate space to fully erupt
- Positioned correctly and do not impede the bite
- Having the ability to clean the wisdom teeth effectively
If you are experiencing no issues and your wisdom teeth are fully erupted, the dentist would say ‘leave things as nature intended’, or something similar. It is pointless having teeth removed that are healthy and effective.
Potential Wisdom Teeth Issues
One of the most common problems is when the wisdom teeth do not have enough room to fully erupt; the teeth can remain completely under the gums, which can cause a cyst to develop or possibly the gums can become infected through an open wound. Some dentists prefer to extract the wisdom teeth prior to a problem arising, while others think it is better to wait until there are crowding issues.
If you are experiencing any discomfort and you think it might be due to the wisdom teeth, make an appointment with your local dentist and let him or her take a look. Even if you have no oral issues, you should make a check-up appointment every few months, which gives your dentist the opportunity to examine your teeth and gums and should he or she find any issues, prompt treatment can be implemented.