Wisdom teeth

No tooth in the mouth attracts so much attention than wisdom teeth.

What are wisdom teeth and why are they called “wisdom”?

Are my wisdom teeth necessary? These are some of the questions that I will answer in this column.

Wisdom teeth are scientifically referred to as third molars. Third molars are typically the last set of teeth to come into the mouth. It is believed that they are called “wisdom teeth” because they appear relatively late in the life of the young adult. It also follows that people are a little wiser at this stage when the teeth come in, hence the term “wisdom teeth”.

The most common age to see wisdom teeth is between 18 and 24. If you can see them in the mouth, they would be the last teeth at the back, both upper and lower arches. Also, their presence represents the largest time period between your second molars and third molars. Unfortunately, though, three out of four people have complications with their wisdom teeth.

Complications with wisdom teeth:

• The wisdom tooth may be lodged below the gum, only to be seen by an x-ray. This is called a tissue impaction.

• The tooth may be lodged below the bone and gum. This is called a bony impaction.

• The wisdom tooth may be laying down horizontally in gum and/or bone and sometimes pinned up against the second molar.

• The wisdom tooth may be lodged very close to the nerve in the lower jaw or sinus in the upper jaw.

These complications are extremely common and as a result, many young and not-so-young adults, need removal.

Are wisdom teeth necessary, and why they cause so many problems

Today, according to the Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 85 percent of all wisdom teeth are removed due to the above complications.

Anthropologists believe wisdom teeth were more necessary a long, long time ago because the diet then was mostly raw and coarse, requiring much more biting forces and chewing ability. Today, our diets are softer and do not require the grinding and mastication of our ancestors. This lack of demand is likely the cause of limited jaw growth. In essence, the functional demand is not there. Despite this smaller size jaw, we still produce the usual 32 teeth. When it is time for the wisdom teeth to erupt into the mouth, the result is crowding, impactions, poor angulation and other complications.

Most wisdom teeth are simple to remove – however, because of their irregularly shaped roots and variation in their positioning, they could be difficult to remove. As a result, oral and maxillofacial surgeons are best trained to remove wisdom teeth, especially if they are bony, impacted or close to the nerve or sinus cavity.

An oral surgeon or experienced dentist should take a 3D image or at least a panoramic image to clearly see the tooth.

Wise patients are those who get the facts and visit an experienced and compassionate dentist for advice and treatment. You can make your wisdom teeth story a favorable one, if you discover the problem early and seek treatment.

 • Dr. Kendal V. O. Major is founder and CEO of Center for Specialized Dentistry, a comprehensive family dental practice operating in New Providence and Grand Baha- ma. He is the first Bahamian specialist in gum diseases and dental implants since 1989. He is also a certified Fastbraces provider. His practice is locat- ed at 89 Collins Avenue. He can be reached at telephone (242) 325-5165 or kmajorcsd@ gmail.com.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/wisdom-teeth/