Many of our patients at Arbutus North Dental have many questions about wisdom teeth and wisdom teeth removal, so for your convenience, our Vancouver dental practice has put together a blog post that covers the facts about wisdom teeth.
Wisdom teeth are the last to erupt in your mouth and usually this occurs between the late teens and early twenties. This youthful time of life has been referred to as the “Age of Wisdom” hence the name of this particular molar. Anthropologists speculate that our early ancestors’ rough diet caused an enormous amount of wear on their teeth. Their teeth then drifted to compensate for the wear, making space for wisdom teeth to come in during adolescence.
In modern times, our diet is significantly softer, leaving no room for wisdom teeth to come in. This creates problems when the wisdom teeth erupt in the mouth. Impacted wisdom teeth are very painful and lead to infection. In addition, they may damage adjacent teeth and roots. Despite the serious concern with regard to impacted wisdom teeth, the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation, as well as the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, confirm that wisdom teeth that are impacted are just as prone to disease as wisdom teeth that erupted in the mouth in an upright, normal position.
The question is often asked, “If my wisdom teeth don’t hurt, why must I get them removed?”. The fact is not all problems caused by wisdom teeth are painful or visible. Whether you are aware of it or not, your wisdom teeth can cause serious damage.
The roots of your wisdom teeth become longer as they grow, making the wisdom teeth very complicated to remove. We can’t foresee what problems will occur as you age with your wisdom teeth in tact, however we do know it can be extremely painful, as well as more complicated to treat as you get older.
Contact our Vancouver dental clinic, Arbutus North Dental, to book your wisdom teeth removal appointment today.