Why do wisdom teeth grow?
Today they are something of a “genetic code” for us, manifesting itself through the millennia. Our ancestors needed the third molars badly to chew the food that was available to them. Most often these were hard parts of plants, meat, and other hard, unprocessed foods. These days, food has become softer, requiring little effort to chew. Whether you and I need wisdom teeth or not, it is impossible to say unequivocally. Of course, the eight teeth no longer perform their former functions and are not involved in the chewing process. But it is worth mentioning other functions that are no less important:
- Third molars hold back the other teeth in the row, keeping them in their proper position, not allowing excessive “sprawl” and loosening;
- Can support a bridge;
- Can partially perform chewing functions if a large number of teeth are lost.
As you can see, the third molars are like substitutes that can come to the rescue in time of need. Only a doctor after a thorough examination can tell whether a wisdom tooth can be removed for a specific person.
Dentists distinguish such complications of wisdom teeth eruption:
- Retention – complete or partial inability to erupt the third molars. In the case of complete retention, the wisdom tooth is found accidentally (e.g., in an X-ray). It may not bother a person for a long time, or not manifest itself in any way;
- Pericoronaritis is the most common complication. It is an inflammation of the soft tissues of the gum surrounding the tooth during the eruption stage;
- Periostitis, commonly referred to as flus, a condition that occurs if the pericoronitis is not treated. In this case, the periosteum is inflamed, under which a cavity with pus is formed;
- Osteomyelitis is a serious complication of periostitis, which leads to a sharp deterioration of health and requires surgical intervention in the hospital.
Problems caused by growing wisdom teeth
The third molars can be called the most problematic teeth. It is the eighths that most patients complain about most often to dentists. There are many problems associated with the growth of these teeth:
- Dystopia, which is the growth of the tooth in the wrong position or direction. Dystopian eights can traumatize the mucous membrane of the mouth, interfere with the correct positioning of neighboring teeth, and cause bite problems;
- The rapid appearance of tooth decay, as high-quality care of the third molars is almost impossible. Tums grow in hard-to-reach places, most often close to the neighboring teeth. Food debris always accumulates between them, and plaque and tartar form quickly as well;
- Tooth root caries, which is particularly insidious. The thing is that root caries is not visible to the naked eye, because it develops deep under the gums. It can be asymptomatic for a long time, and can spread to the root of the seventh tooth;
- Various cysts, which sometimes occupy a large volume of bone tissue, can affect adjacent teeth.
Now you understand why wisdom teeth are extracted – in some cases it helps significantly improve the patient’s quality of life and prevent the development of serious pathologies.
We offer the Best Prices for Wisdom Tooth Extraction. Please call us for consultation and for taking referral to do OPG ( special X-ray).
