Wisdom Teeth

Why do we have wisdom teeth?

Adults can have up to 32 teeth. The wisdom teeth are the last to come through, right at the back.
They usually appear when you are between 17 and 25, although sometimes they appear many years later.

Nowadays people often have jaws that are too small for all 32 teeth- 28 is often the most we have room for. So if all the other teeth are present and healthy there may not be enough space for the wisdom teeth to come through properly.

Do they always cause problems?

No. If there is enough room they will usually come through into a useful position and cause no more problems than any other tooth.

Often there is not enough room, the wisdom tooth may try to come through, but will get stuck against the tooth in front of it. The wisdom tooth will be at an angle, and will be described by the dentist as ‘impacted’.

What problem should I be prepared for?

If part of the wisdom tooth has appeared through the gum and part of it is still covered, the gum may become sore and perhaps swollen. Food particles and bacteria can collect under the gum edge, and it will be difficult to clean the area effectively.