Most of us will have wisdom teeth erupt at some point in life. But when do wisdom teeth usually come in? In this article, we answer this question and talk about cases in which you might need wisdom teeth extraction.
When Do Wisdom Teeth Usually Come in?
A wisdom tooth can also be referred to as a third molar and is located at the very back of your mouth. They do not erupt when your baby teeth get changed to permanent ones, but come in later in life. In general, you can expect them to erupt between 17 and 25 years of age. That being said, some people might have their wisdom teeth come in earlier or later, or not develop them at all.
Signs That Your Wisdom Teeth Are Erupting
When your wisdom tooth begins to erupt, you might experience the following symptoms:
- Swelling in the jaw
- Tenderness, swelling, or soreness of the gum tissue at the back of your mouth
- Pain at the back of the mouth when chewing food
- Difficulty opening your mouth or stiffness of the jaw
- Headaches or ear pain
- Toothache located next to the erupting wisdom tooth
- Fever, especially in combination with other symptoms
- Cysts on the gums at the back of your mouth
- Unpleasant taste in the mouth or bad breath
- Bleeding of the gums at the back of your mouth
- Changes in the way your teeth fit together when your mouth is closed
- Changes in how your teeth are aligned (typically, wisdom teeth cause the rest of your teeth to move closer together or become crowded)
These symptoms and their severity can vary from one person to another, and some people might experience only slight discomfort, if any, when their wisdom teeth are erupting. In addition, the symptoms we mentioned above can signify other oral health issues, except for wisdom teeth eruption, such as gum disease and tooth decay of already erupted teeth.
Thus, if you experience any of the symptoms listed above, we recommend consulting your dentist. Timely extraction can prevent potential orthodontic issues, oral infections, and abscesses, and expensive future treatments for these complications.
Cases When Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Extracted
Some people do not have any issues with their wisdom teeth that fully erupt to the surface and function just like all other teeth. However, wisdom teeth can cause pain, discomfort, and other complications for many people. Below, we talk about cases that might call for their extraction:
- If your doctor tells you that your teeth are impacted, it means that they have not erupted to the surface of the gum properly. They can be partially impacted (partially hidden underneath the gum) or fully impacted (the entire tooth is hidden underneath the gum). Impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain or discomfort, especially when chewing food. Also, they can cause the gum tissue to become irritated or inflamed. In addition, partially impacted wisdom teeth are difficult to clean. As a result, they can get recurring cavities. If impacted wisdom teeth cause chronic pain or inflammation in the mouth, they are typically extracted.
- Fully erupted wisdom teeth can be positioned at an angle, interfering with the surrounding teeth and causing orthodontic issues. If your dentist predicts that a wisdom tooth will cause overcrowding, they will recommend pulling it out.
- Another cause for wisdom teeth extraction is preparation for an orthodontic treatment, especially if there is not enough room in the mouth for the teeth to move.
- A wisdom tooth that gets recurring cavities is also taken out. Cavities in wisdom teeth are treated in the same way as in all other teeth. However, if the position of your wisdom teeth makes it challenging to clean them effectively on a daily basis, the teeth can get reinfected. Recurring cavities in a wisdom tooth can make treatments ineffective and time-consuming in the long run. Also, chronic infection of your wisdom teeth can spread to the surrounding teeth, the gum tissue, and the jawbone.
Make an Appointment at Monte Vista Dental Group
If your wisdom tooth is causing you pain or discomfort, do not hesitate to make an appointment with an experienced dentist at Monte Vista Dental Group today. We will carefully examine your case to determine if your wisdom teeth need to be taken out and make sure that the extraction procedure is stress and pain-free. We look forward to your visit.