One of the most common teeth to cause dental issues, and known to induce nervousness and anxiety in a lot of adults - the wisdom tooth. It's the last of your 32 teeth to develop in your mouth, and with its late arrival comes many complications.
We've taken the time to put together a single source of information surrounding wisdom teeth, in the hopes of debunking some myths around them, clearing up any confusion or questions, and putting your mind at ease when it comes to extraction.
All you need to know about wisdom teeth
We’ve all heard of wisdom teeth - the deep-rooted, large teeth in the back corners of your mouth that erupt later on in life than the rest of your teeth. For many people, the thought of wisdom teeth can induce anxiety and nervousness - but what do you really know about wisdom teeth?
What are wisdom teeth?
Sometimes referred to by dentists as ‘third molars’, people develop wisdom teeth on both sides of the upper and lower jaw. While some people have a set of four wisdom teeth, others have none at all. They’re the final set of teeth to emerge in a human’s life, and are subsequently named ‘wisdom teeth’ as you’re presumably wiser when they emerge!
Why do we have wisdom teeth?
Once necessary in human ancestors for grinding down a diet of roots, leaves, meat, and nuts, these flat molars are no longer required. Humans now cook and soften food, as well as cut and crush food with utensils, making wisdom teeth redundant.
Does everyone have wisdom teeth?
No! Some anthropologists believe that humans have evolved beyond needing wisdom teeth, and as a result some people never get any. However, genetics do cause most people to grow wisdom teeth when they become young adults.
Just because you can’t see all of your wisdom teeth doesn’t mean they’re not there. Sometimes wisdom teeth never erupt through the gums - a quick x-ray will show you whether or not your wisdom teeth are there.
How do I tell if my wisdom teeth are coming through?
While a pain in the back of the mouth can mean your wisdom teeth are coming through, this isn’t always the case. It can be difficult to differentiate between wisdom teeth causing the issue and another problem.
Some quick-fire signs that your wisdom teeth are on their way:
- Pressure or throbbing in your gums
- Swollen or visible cuts at the back of your mouth
- Earaches, headaches or pressure in your sinuses
Signs it’s probably not your wisdom teeth:
- Non-lingering sensitivity to sweet things, heat or cold - this could indicate an exposed root
- A mild, sharp pain when you bite down
- Visible hole in your tooth or staining
Signs you need your wisdom teeth removed
If you’re experiencing pain and discomfort at the back of your mouth, you might be worried that your wisdom teeth could be the cause. This is a source of anxiety for many people, as the idea of having your wisdom teeth removed seems like a terrifying feat.
Here are some of the most common signs that it could, in fact, be your wisdom teeth at the source of your oral pain.
Inflamed Gums
When wisdom teeth emerge, they often grow sideways or at an angle, which can impact other teeth and cause friction in your mouth. Sometimes, as a result of impacted teeth, your gums will swell.
Wisdom teeth erupting through the gum can result in food particles and debris becoming trapped under the gum. Left untreated, this buildup can cause pericoronitis, which is a hot-bed of bacteria that abscesses and causes a sack of fluid and pus.
Sinus Issues
Believe it or not, cold and sinus symptoms such as headaches, sinus aching and general stuffiness can be a sign that your wisdom teeth are coming through - not a bug!
As your wisdom teeth grow and develop, the roots can push against your sinuses that are located right about your teeth. If you’re experiencing pain and pressure, as well as cold symptoms, you could be experiencing wisdom teeth related issues rather than sinusitis.
Persistent Jaw Ache
As your new wisdom teeth come through, if your jaw isn’t big enough to accommodate them, you may feel an associated jaw ache. If you have an impacted tooth or infection, it’s also likely that your lymph nodes will be swollen, adding to the overall stiffness and pain felt in your jaw.
Damage to Adjacent Teeth
Often, dental surgeons opt to remove wisdom teeth from younger people's mouths before they completely come through and begin to cause problems. If you're a young adult or adult with a full set of teeth, you might start noticing changes in your mouth as your wisdom teeth come through.
These are just a few symptoms that may help you determine whether your wisdom teeth need to be removed or not.
As always, book an appointment with an oral surgeon for diagnosis and extraction
Wisdom Teeth Complications
There are many reasons why wisdom teeth have grown a reputation for being particularly problematic and require extraction more often than not. We’ve put together a quick list of some of the main issues experienced both before and after extraction.
Pre-surgery
- Wisdom teeth partially emerged: this is a common problem with wisdom teeth - as they begin to emerge through the gum, often there are other teeth or bone that prevent them from fully erupting. This can cause flaps of gum tissue that can trap food residue and other bacteria. The result of this is pericoronitis, which is an infection causing painful and swollen gum tissue around the area of the affected tooth.
- Impacted teeth: often wisdom teeth may become twisted, tilted or displaced as they try to emerge into a mouth that has no room to accommodate them. There are a few types of impacted teeth:
- Mesioangular impaction: the tooth is angled towards the front of the mouth.
- Distoangular impaction: the tooth is angled towards the back of the mouth.
- Horizontal impaction: the tooth is angled sideways at a full 90 degrees, and it is growing into the roots of the molar next to it.
Post-surgery
- Dry socket (alveolar osteitis): after your tooth is extracted, a blood clot forms to heal and protect the tooth site. If this blood clot dislodges, dissolves or doesn’t form at all, food particles and bacteria can get lodged in the gap.
- Paraesthesia: dental paraesthesia is a rare complication associated with wisdom tooth removal, where nerve trauma from a complex surgery can result in the onset of parasthesia. The change in sensation that’s noticed may be permanent or partially resolved.
Wisdom teeth pain or growing pains?
There are two kinds of pain that are commonly experienced when it comes to wisdom teeth, both of which can be difficult to distinguish from the other.
Growing pains
Wisdom teeth usually begin to erupt in young adults between the ages of 17 - 25, in both women and men. Most people grow a set of four wisdom teeth in total, and as each of these come through later in life, there are common pains lumped in with ‘growing up’.
Sometimes (if you’re lucky) wisdom teeth will erupt without any issues and little pain. However, more often than not, adult jaws are not large enough to accommodate four new, large teeth. As the tooth breaks the gum and the pressure of your new tooth pushes through, there are some normal aches and pains to be expected.
A bigger problem
Unfortunately, as your wisdom teeth are such latecomers in life, significant and persistent pain can mean there’s something wrong. If there’s not enough room in your mouth for your new teeth to grow, this can bring on a myriad of issues.
If a tooth is impacted (growing sideways and impacting with another tooth), this can cause swelling of the gums, jaw aches, fevers, and abscesses - all of which may indicate that you need to have your wisdom tooth surgically removed.
How long does a wisdom tooth take to grow?
Unfortunately, there’s no real measure of how long it will take your wisdom tooth to grow and begin to erupt in your mouth. The timelines can range from a few months, years - or in some cases, not at all!
Your oral surgeon will be able to advise the placement of your wisdom teeth through observing an x-ray.
