Wisdom Teeth
By the age of 18, the average adult has 32 teeth; 16 teeth on the top and 16 teeth on the bottom. Each tooth in the mouth has a specific name and function. The teeth in the front of the mouth (incisors, canine, and bicuspid teeth) are ideal for grasping and biting food into smaller pieces. The back teeth (molar teeth) are used to grind food up into a consistency suitable for swallowing.
Due to evolution the average mouth size is decreasing and in most of the individuals the average mouth cannot accommodate more than 28 teeth. It can be painful when 32 teeth try to fit in a mouth that holds only 28 teeth. These four other teeth are your third molars, also known as "wisdom teeth."
Why should I get my wisdom teeth removed?
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt. When they align properly and gums around the teeth are healthy wisdom teeth do not have to be removed. Unfortunately, this does not generally happen. The extraction of wisdom teeth is necessary when they are prevented from properly erupting within the mouth. They may grow sideways, partially emerge from the gums, and even remain trapped beneath the gums and the bone. Impacted teeth can take many different positions in the bone as they attempt to find a pathway that will allow them to successfully erupt.
These poorly positioned/erupted impacted teeth can cause many problems. When they are incompletely erupted, the opening around the teeth allows bacteria to grow and will eventually cause an infection. This may result in swelling, stiffness, pain, and illness. The pressure from the erupting wisdom teeth may move other teeth and disrupt the natural alignment of teeth. The most serious problem occurs when tumours or cysts form around the impacted wisdom teeth results in the destruction of the jawbone and healthy teeth. Removal of the offending impacted teeth usually resolves these problems. Early removal is recommended to avoid such future problems and to decrease the surgical risk involved with this procedure.
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