All You Need to Know About Wisdom Teeth

Here are some answers for you

Wisdom teeth are similar to any other tooth in your month. They are the third set of molars located in the very back of the mouth and they start erupting at the age of 18 years but can emerge later as well. Most people have all four wisdom teeth, while some may have only two or three. The best way to check their presence is with a large xray taken at the age of 15-17 years.

Since Wisdom teeth come later in life they may have a difficulty, finding enough room to erupt into place. When there is not enough room for the wisdom teeth to erupt, they may be tilted, crowd existing teeth,  damage nearby teeth or trap food and bacteria around them.

Misaligned or impacted wisdom teeth which trap food and bacteria, can cause tooth decay, swelling, tenderness and bad breath. The solution to these problems is to have them removed.

Since we can be foreseen when wisdom tooth eruption can lead to problems, it is recommended to plan for their removal at a younger age, before problems begin to arise. Removal at a younger age is also easier since the roots of the teeth are not fully developed and the bone is less dense.

Please contact us at Tooronga Family Dentistry to have the position of the wisdom teeth checked. The first step will be to have an x-ray to determine the presence and position of these teeth. From there, Dr. Kaufman can determine the best course of action for you.