Most of us associate wisdom teeth with adolescence because that’s when they first show up. Wisdom teeth are an extra set of molars that come in between ages 17 and 25. The best thing to do is to have them removed when they first show up, but many people put this off and still have their wisdom teeth as older adults. Here’s what you should know if you’re an adult and still have your wisdom teeth.

Wisdom Teeth Can Eventually Cause Problems

Usually any problems with your wisdom teeth are detected by examining them on an x-ray when you’re still a teenager and before they become symptomatic. However, wisdom tooth pain and problems can show up out of nowhere when you’re older if you’ve put off removal.

Wisdom teeth that are partially erupted (have only come through the gums part of the way) can create a pocket between tooth and gum where bacteria can grow. This can cause infections and cysts that can keep getting worse and even spread throughout your body.

Impacted wisdom teeth are teeth that haven’t erupted at all. They are still trapped beneath the gum or bone. Impacted wisdom teeth can put pressure on neighboring molars and cause discomfort.

If you start having symptoms that may be caused by your wisdom teeth, it’s important to tell the dentist right away so we can examine you and discuss a treatment plan of your wisdom teeth need to be extracted.

Wisdom Teeth Removal Might Be More Complicated

Some people’s wisdom teeth don’t cause any problems for years. While this sounds like a good thing, it means that when and if the teeth do start having problems (such as mentioned above), the teeth have had more time to grow roots. These deeper roots run close to certain nerves, which can be damaged during wisdom tooth removal, potentially causing permanent numbness. Deeper tooth roots may also mean a longer recovery time. Typical recovery time is about 3 days in younger people, but may be longer with older wisdom teeth.

Sooner Is Better Than Later!

If you have any concerns about your wisdom teeth or have felt changes in your mouth that may be related, please talk to us sooner rather than later.

Wisdom teeth are the name for your third permanent molars, which typically appear from age 17-25. It is thought the name “wisdom teeth” comes from the fact that they appear long after all your other permanent teeth, when you a much older & wiser. Most people have four wisdom teeth, one in each quadrant of the mouth (upper left, upper right, lower left, lower right). If your dentist has been doing updated x-rays of your mouth every year, they might be able to see where your wisdom teeth are going to come in, but there’s no guarantee on how wisdom teeth will behave.

In some cases, wisdom teeth come in (or erupt, as we dentists say) normally & function just like your other molars. In many other cases, however, wisdom teeth are impacted. Impacted means the teeth are stuck in the bone under your gums. Either there isn’t enough room for them to come in all the way, or they’re coming in at such a strange angle that it’s impossible for them to emerge from your gums.

Not all impacted wisdom teeth will cause problems, but wisdom teeth removal is still recommended for many patients, even when they are not experiencing any negative symptoms. The reason for this is wisdom teeth removal is much easier & less complicated the younger the tooth is. Younger wisdom teeth have less developed roots & are less likely to be near nerves. Also, younger people tend to heal better, so having wisdom teeth removed in the late teens or early twenties often provides for better results. As the wisdom teeth get older & get integrated into the bone of your jaw, they become harder to remove.

Some patients start experiencing pain & swelling soon after their wisdom teeth appear. In other cases, the wisdom teeth can come in only partially, creating an optimal place for bacteria & infection to grow between the partially exposed gum & other teeth. This infection is called pericornitis. In these situations, emergency wisdom teeth removal is usually recommended to relieve pain & prevent further complications. If you are in your late teens or twenties & are experiencing a toothache or jaw pain, visit the dentist to see if it could be related to your wisdom teeth.

Wisdom teeth removal is performed either by your dentist or an oral surgeon. Some dental clinics have an oral surgeon on staff, but others may require you to get a referral to a separate oral surgeon’s office. If your dentist doesn’t perform oral surgeries, they usually have a trusted local oral surgeon that they work with who they will refer you to.

Removing wisdom teeth is a fairly straightforward procedure. If your wisdom tooth has emerged from the gum normally (erupted), it will be “pulled” like any other tooth. If it is impacted, the dentist or oral surgeon may have to make an incision in the gum to access the tooth in the bone. The complexity of removing an impacted is particular to each patient’s situation. You dentist or oral surgeon will also help determine the level of sedation needed to keep you comfortable.

After wisdom teeth removal surgery, most patients experience some pain & swelling for several days. Your dentist or oral surgeon will give you post-operative instructions, like taking Tylenol or using ice packs, to help you heal & stay comfortable. You may also get a prescription for a stronger painkiller if necessary. You will also get recommendations on the types of soft foods you can eat until you’ve healed enough to chew again.

Did you know that not everyone develops wisdom teeth? In fact, the incidence of wisdom teeth in those with Tasmanian Aboriginal ancestry is practically zero. By contrast, nearly 100% of indigenous Mexicans have wisdom teeth.