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health & beauty ║ Your Dental Health
Wise Advice About Wisdom Teeth
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BY Dr. Gregory Tull
Regardless of your age...” sub headline and replace with “Not everyone needs their wisdom teeth removed, but everyone should have a consultation for evaluation
history The Turks call them Twenty Year Teeth because they erupt post-adolescently. The Koreans call them Love Teeth because they begin to stir at about the same age as our youthful passions. The Thais call them Huddling Teeth because they try to crowd into the back of the mouth. We call them Wisdom Teeth because they erupt when we’re older and (supposedly!) wiser. Technically, they are simply our third molars, and are the teeth furthest back in the four corners of our mouth (two each on top and bottom). Anthropologists believe wisdom teeth were the evolutionary answer to our ancestor’s early diet of course, rough foods, like leaves, roots, nuts and meats that required more chewing power. Our modern diet includes softer foods, and along with the use of forks, spoons and knives, has made the need for wisdom teeth nonexistent. As a result, evolutionary biologists now classify wisdom teeth as vestigial organs, or body parts that have become functionless, or near worthless, due to evolution and a refined diet. Complications Generally, wisdom teeth try breaking through the gums between the ages of 16 and 20, and they can (and often do) cause considerable discomfort, infection, and damage to adjacent teeth. When there isn’t sufficient room for them to emerge unimpeded, they are said to be impacted. 44 May 2014 | www.AtlanticAveMagazine.com
Possible likely complications from wisdom teeth may include: chronic discomfort in the mouth; abscess of the tooth or gums; infection; bite issues, which cause improper contact between the upper and lower teeth; and excessive buildup of food and plaque trapped in the teeth and gums, leading to decay and/or gum disease at some point. Although rare, more serious complications may occur if the surrounding tooth sac is untreated. The impacted tooth can become filled with fluid and enlarge to form a cyst. As the cyst grows, it may erode the surrounding bone and jeopardize the stability and health of the adjacent teeth, bone and nerves. If left untreated, the cyst could possibly develop into a tumor, requiring even more aggressive and disfiguring surgery. What To Do In general, wisdom teeth that cause pain, infection or bite problems are usually- and should be!- removed. But not all problems are painful or visible. Even wisdom teeth that cause no apparent or immediate problems are particularly
vulnerable to disease. In fact, The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation have found that even those wisdom teeth that have grown into the mouth in a normal, upright position may be as prone to disease as those that are impacted! Moreover, the older we get, the more prone they are to disease, and the more difficult they are to remove, requiring a doubled recovery time. About two-thirds of the population will require removal of their wisdom teeth at some point in their life. Simply put, not everyone needs their wisdom teeth removed, but everyone should have a consultation for evaluation. If you haven’t yet had your wisdom teeth removed, make an appointment with your dentist to assess the position and condition to determine if removal is in your best interest. Spodak Dental Group is a comprehensive dental practice providing all general and specialty services in one convenient facility. Call 561498-0050 or visit www.SpodakDental.com to schedule an appointment.