Wisdom teeth were useful for humanity’s early ancestors. Today, however, they are at best superfluous, and at worst harmful. Dental clinics in Edmonton, such as Westmount Dental Centre, often recommend that their patients have their wisdom teeth removed for numerous oral health reasons.
Wisdom teeth would have been beneficial for a diet consisting mostly of wild meats, plant roots, leaves, and nuts. The modern diet, on the other hand, doesn’t require such powerful chompers, and the modern human jaw often isn’t made to accommodate them.
When Do Wisdom Teeth Begin Coming In?
According to the Canadian Dental Association, wisdom teeth usually erupt in young adults who are between 17 and 21 years old. In some cases, however, the patient can be up to 24 or 25 years old. Also known as third molars, the wisdom teeth come in at the back of the mouth.
Why Might Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed? The gene which causes the development of wisdom teeth is still present in most human populations, but the human jaw has become significantly smaller in recent evolutionary history. With this limited space, wisdom teeth often erupt at the wrong angle or aren’t able to erupt at all and become impacted.
How Do I Know If My Wisdom Teeth Need Extraction? The easiest way to find out if your wisdom teeth need to be extracted is to pay regular visits to a Edmonton family dentist. By examining your teeth and taking x-rays, a dentist can predict if your wisdom teeth are going to give you trouble.
You’ll also be able to tell if your wisdom teeth are having trouble erupting because they will usually cause pain, jaw stiffness, and gum inflammation. Sometimes wisdom teeth manage to grow in properly, but their location at the back of the mouth makes them hard to clean and prone to developing cavities, tooth decay, and infections.
Wisdom Teeth Extraction in Edmonton The experienced Edmonton family dentists at Westmount Dental Centre can help you decide if wisdom tooth extraction is right for you, and tell you about your options for a comfortable procedure. Don’t hesitate to give Westmount Dental Centre a call if you are experiencing pain or if you just want to make sure that your wisdom teeth don’t cause issues in the future.