By the age of 17, many people will experience the development of their first wisdom tooth. Clinically known as your third set of molars (or third molars), wisdom teeth often become impacted by a crowded jawbone or the molars that are nearby. This can cause progressively worse issues with your dental health until your dentist extracts them.
If you’re beginning to develop wisdom teeth and wonder if you should replace them, then speak with your dentist about your options during your next visit.
Why do we grow wisdom teeth?
Though we still develop them, third molars are a throw-back to an age when our ancestors needed the extra chewing power to properly process a rougher diet (i.e., raw vegetation and roots). They also had larger jawbones, which have shrunk over time as the human diet has evolved. Smaller jawbones means that impacted wisdom teeth become more common; however, many people can still accommodate their wisdom teeth, or may not grow third molars at all.
Should all wisdom teeth be extracted?
Many patients don’t realize that their wisdom teeth are crooked or impacted until they experience severe discomfort in their teeth and gums. By then, extraction is necessary to stop the destruction and alleviate the pain. Others may choose to remove their wisdom teeth before they have a chance to cause trouble.
Should I replace an extracted wisdom tooth?
The good thing about extracting a wisdom tooth is that it doesn’t have to be replaced, even if it wasn’t giving you trouble. Unlike other extracted teeth, removing a third molar will not drastically affect your bite’s balance, and in many cases, will improve it.
Ask Your Dentist About Your Wisdom Teeth
If you have more questions about your wisdom teeth, or you aren’t sure whether or not you should extract them, then schedule an appointment, Call Sunnyvale Dental Care today at (408) 720-0900. We also proudly serve patients from Santa Clara, Cupertino, Mountain View, San Jose, Campbell, Palo Alto, and all surrounding communities.