Growth starts from conception and continues into adulthood. You have the basic body structures at birth necessary for survival outside the womb. Your body undergoes numerous changes as you get older, all working on getting you to a place of independence. 

The growth process is informed by millions of years of evolution and adaptation of the human body to the environment. These changes can be seen in the dental structure and system. Your first teeth erupt at about six to seven months, with the rest of the teeth following suit. 

By the time you are in your early teens, most of your teeth will have already erupted. However, the third set of molars usually has yet to show up. These are the popular wisdom teeth that often require extraction.

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

As mentioned, wisdom teeth are the third and last molars in most people’s mouths. However, some people are genetically predisposed to having them, while others are not. The Dental Research Journal indicates that 5 to 37% of people are missing at least one of these molars. If one of your parents lacks the molars, it is likely that you will also not have them. 

However, failing to erupt the molars can make them invisible to the eye. In such a case, the tooth is said to be impacted and trapped under the gums, and the dentist uses X-rays to detect it. When your wisdom teeth are affected, the recommended action is to remove them. It is the best way to prevent infection or pain associated with an impacted tooth. 

When Do They Usually Come In?

Usually, most people get wisdom teeth when they are about 17 to 21. But this timeline is just the average; some people can get them earlier while some much later.
 

If you are to have the teeth removed, it is recommended to have the extraction while you are young. As you age, the bones in your mouth grow harder, making surgical procedures much harder. 

When Do You Need to Have Them Removed?

• Pain
   

When the teeth erupt, they can cause significant pain as they emerge through the gums. The pain will usually come on and off over the years, but it can also increase and become unbearable. Pain from wisdom teeth comes from the tooth pressing down on the nerves.
 

• Impacted Tooth

Often, your mouth is only primed to handle 28 teeth. When the wisdom teeth erupt, they will lead to overcrowding, which can lead to the tooth becoming impacted. When this happens, it can lead to severe pain, especially around other molars. You may also form a cyst at the back of the oral cavity. 
 

• Infections and Cavities

The tooth may remain partly impacted during emergence, leaving your gums vulnerable. The bacteria that can collect can lead to complications such as inflammation, bad breath, and pain. Food can also get trapped here, which may lead to cavities in the tooth.
 

• Shifting

When the wisdom teeth emerge, they can push against your other teeth, causing them to shift and become crooked.
 

For more on whether everyone needs their wisdom teeth removed, visit bty DENTAL at our offices in Anchorage, Alaska. Call (907) 333-6666 to book an appointment today.