Where and when do we get them?
Wisdom teeth are the last adult teeth to appear and are sometimes associated with pain. Most people have 28 teeth by the time they reach 12 years old, however, wisdom teeth emerge between the ages of 17 and 21 years old.
Wisdom teeth are molars and consequently are sometimes known as third molars. Molars are the strongest teeth in your mouth and are responsible for grinding food. Your wisdom teeth erupt at the very back of your gums behind your existing molars. The appearance of wisdom teeth can be an unpredictable experience, with some people having all four, others having only two and for some people they may never appear.
Their purpose is to assist with chewing and eating, however, they are not necessary, so if you have not seen them appear it is not something to worry about. However, for some, the emergence of wisdom tooth could lead to a great deal of discomfort. Wisdom teeth may not have enough room to develop and consequently, they force pressure on your existing molars and the gums. This leads to many people having their wisdom teeth removed through a very simple tooth extractionThe process or act of removing a tooth or tooth parts. treatment. This prevents the gums from becoming infected and potentially leading to greater issues.
Wisdom teeth have a reputation for causing pain and if you are concerned about this or feel any discomfort at the back of your gums please contact your dentist and they’ll be more than happy to examine your gums and provide some further details about wisdom teeth and why there is nothing to seriously worry about.
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