Every year, millions of people need to have their third molars, or \u201cwisdom teeth,\u201d removed for a variety of reasons. While not everyone has a problem with these teeth, it is important to understand what they are, what they\u2019re used for, and how they can cause problems for your oral health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Knowing the signs and symptoms of wisdom tooth-related issues can keep you from experiencing major complications in the long run, and catching a problem early means there is a chance it can be treated before it causes too much damage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our third molars are a set of teeth that predate modern man. They were vital to the chewing process of certain foods prior to the modernization of agriculture. Much of the food that prehistoric humans ate was very coarse, rough, and often raw, and the additional molars were used to help grind up food, like vegetation, nuts, and even some meats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The modern diet is much softer, and this softer diet has influenced the development of the palate<\/a>, muscles, and soft tissues needed for chewing. There are many theories as to why a significant number of people require wisdom teeth removal at some point in their life. Perhaps the human skull is just smaller, or maybe the change in the type of food we eat has altered development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Either way, the third molar or wisdom tooth is often not able to fit in the mouth and is unnecessary for eating. While not everyone has a third set of molars, those who do typically notice them growing in between the ages of 17 and 25. This is thought to be the origin of the term \u201cwisdom teeth,\u201d as by the time a person has these teeth, they are considered older and wiser than children.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are multiple reasons why people may have to have a wisdom tooth extracted. The most common reason is due to a lack of space in the mouth for the wisdom teeth. In many people, the lack of space leads to the teeth not erupting properly in the mouth, causing what is known as an impacted wisdom tooth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n An impacted wisdom tooth can be either a tooth that has only partially erupted from the gumline or one that has not erupted at all. In either case, this can potentially cause a whole range of issues, which is why many dentists recommend wisdom tooth extraction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even in cases where wisdom teeth erupt normally, there is a possibility that the teeth may develop issues in the future due to crowding and space related issues that can affect not only the wisdom tooth itself, but other teeth, the jawbone, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important to know that some problems caused by wisdom teeth will have definite signs and symptoms, while others will not. This means it is important to maintain routine visits to your local family dentist in Austin <\/a>to make sure\u00a0 issues don\u2019t go undetected, even if you feel fine.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most obvious symptom that signals you may have problems with your wisdom teeth is tooth pain. This may result from a number of things, such as an infection, a partial eruption, or the actual position of the tooth because they can sometimes come in at angle or completely sideways, or infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Other noticeable issues that may occur include pain and inflammation in the gums due to gum disease<\/a> that has developed around the wisdom tooth, fluid sacs that develop around the wisdom tooth, and damage to adjacent teeth.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy Many People Have Wisdom Teeth Removed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to Tell If You Have Problems with Your Wisdom Teeth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n