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Ancient people had a different diet. They had larger heads. Wisdom teeth weren’t just practical. They were necessary.
Wisdom teeth usually erupt between the ages of 18 and 30. Civilizations equated teeth with adulthood, hence the term “wisdom teeth.” Some even held ceremonies celebrating the arrival of these four teeth, called third molars, located in the far back of the mouth.
Today, wisdom teeth are more of an annoyance. Humans have smaller mouths, so their teeth crowd out one another. They can become decayed or grow impacted. Changing diets mean they are no longer needed.
Not everyone needs to have wisdom teeth removed. For some, they pose no problems. However, they can cause dental issues for many others, and removal is recommended. Impacted wisdom teeth can grow under other teeth or into the jaw, causing pain, decay in other teeth, or affecting the jawbone. Even those that grow correctly can cause other teeth to become misaligned. It is simple and convenient to remove them.
Every person is different, so every wisdom tooth removal is different. For some, they grow in singly or two at a time. Others experience all four erupting at once. Some may never get all their wisdom teeth. Two wisdom teeth on the same side can sometimes be removed in one visit. It may be that you need several visits to remove all four wisdom teeth. Our dentists at Versante Dental are trained to assess each person and their wisdom teeth’s growth to provide personalized care.
Wisdom teeth that grow correctly require only a simple tooth extraction. A local anaesthetic numbs the area and a general dentist removes the tooth. The area is sutured, and gauze is placed over it.
A wisdom tooth that is growing impacted will require an oral surgeon to remove it. That may require sedation and a longer procedure. It may also require a longer recovery time.