Posted on 7/1/2024 by DeLuca, Ressel, & Congemi Dental Care
Wisdom teeth represent one of the holdovers from ancient humans when food was not cooked and nearly everything was consumed in its raw form. There is a debate among parents about whether or not their teenagers need to have their wisdom teeth removed. When should you leave the wisdom teeth alone, and when do they need to be removed by our dentist?
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
The term wisdom teeth comes from the knowledge that wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt. Wisdom teeth are permanent adult teeth that represent the third set of molars in the back of your mouth. Molars represent the largest group of teeth your body has; you have 12 molars compared to eight incisors, for example. Most people get wisdom teeth between 16 and 21 years of age. You have two wisdom teeth in your bottom jaw and two wisdom teeth in your top jaw.
Why Do People Have Their Wisdom Teeth Removed?
The American Dental Association reports that nearly 85 percent of all adults have their wisdom teeth removed by the time they are 40 years old. The most common reason our dentist removes wisdom teeth is because they are causing pain or infection. Often, wisdom teeth do not erupt naturally. Instead, they become stuck in their jawbones and refuse to push upward through the gum tissue. If their wisdom teeth do not erupt properly, they can cause pain for your teenager. Many teenagers report gum and jaw pain, severe headaches, and the inability to open their mouths all the way. If impacted wisdom teeth are left alone, they can become infected or abscessed. This infection can spread to other teeth in the jaw.
Dentists may also remove wisdom teeth if there is no room for them in the jaw. Many people have small jaws but large permanent teeth, so their wisdom teeth cannot erupt.
What Should I Do?
If you have concerns about the wisdom teeth your teen has, your first step should be to give our office a call to set up an appointment with our dentist. Dentists can take X-rays of the teeth and determine whether removing the wisdom teeth is in their best interest.
About | Dentist Spring Hill, FL | DeLuca, Ressel, & Congemi We here at O'Sullivan, DeLuca & Ressel Dental Care want our patients to maintain healthy, bright, and beautiful smiles! Click to learn more about us! DeLuca, Ressel, & Congemi Dental Care - Dr. James DeLuca DMD, Dr. Nick Ressel DMD, 3429 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill, FL 34609, (352) 666-9898, springhilldentist.com, 12/8/2024, Page Terms:dentist spring hill fl,
Wisdom teeth represent one of the holdovers from ancient humans when food was not cooked and nearly everything was consumed in its raw form. There is a debate among parents about whether or not their teenagers need to have their wisdom teeth removed. When should you leave the wisdom teeth alone, and when do they need to be removed by our dentist?