What Are Wisdom Teeth?

In this blog, we will be outlining all you need to know about what wisdom teeth are, including key details on wisdom teeth, potential issues with wisdom teeth, and what can be done with wisdom teeth.

What wisdom teeth are

Wisdom teeth are an extra set of molars which usually erupt near the end of skeletal growth. The typical age for this eruption is sixteen to eighteen but it may occur later in some individuals. The amount of wisdom teeth can vary, with some individuals getting a full set of four, others getting between one and three, and some not getting any at all. They can be referred to as a vestigial organ, as over our evolution they have lost their essential function. Some theories speculate that these extra molars were used by our ancient ancestors who had bigger and sturdier jaws and chewed foods which were much tougher. Subsequently, as our modern diets are much softer, we no longer require these molars, and thus, they are unnecessary.

Potential issues with wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth have the potential to lead to many problems beyond the simple fact that they are unnecessary for our modern diets. Some issues have been listed below:

• A major issue caused by wisdom teeth is the damage they can cause on the second molars based on how they erupt. If they erupt at a flat angle then they will directly push onto second molars, and subsequently damage them.
• Another issue wisdom teeth can cause is they cause the mouth to become crowded, and this can be a reason for removal.
• Wisdom teeth can also potentially only partially erupt, and the tooth will thus only partially protrude out of the gum. This can cause pockets to form between tooth and gum.
• Pocketing in gums can easily allow for potential infections. This in turn can mean swelling of the face, fever, or even worse issues.

What to do with wisdom teeth

The most popular treatment that is done for those with wisdom teeth is simply removing them all together, however, this is not the only option. In certain scenarios it is possible to use wisdom teeth to deal with issues such as replacing a damaged second molar. This requires a thorough dental assessment to determine wisdom tooth status and formation, as well as general dental health. The best scenario for a tooth replacement for a second molar would be significant crowding around the area, thus the wisdom tooth would not need to be significantly moved to grow in the second molar spot. This can avoid significant orthodontic treatment to move the tooth, although if this is not an available avenue then braces may be needed to ensure correct alignment.

Wisdom teeth can also rarely be used for auto-transplantation. This involves moving a wisdom tooth surgically into the spot where another tooth may be missing for whatever reason. If this is done correctly then it is possible that the tooth itself will continue to develop normally. Ideally, this procedure is done when the wisdom tooth is in its infancy and is not yet fully grown, as the root apex will still be open, and it is still open to future growth potential.

In some scenarios, the wisdom tooth may still require reshaping to properly fit in line with the remaining teeth in the area being dealt with, but this should be easily done. Survival rate of wisdom teeth used in this procedure are extremely high, and you should have no major worries.

If you would like to arrange a consultation with one of our dentists, contact the team and we’ll get you booked in.