What are wisdom teeth, and why are they such a problem?
Wisdom teeth usually appear at the back of your mouth during your late teens or early twenties. Often there is no room for them to ‘erupt’ (come through the gum) and the teeth fail to emerge properly. A wisdom tooth can erupt partially through the gum, or remain trapped below the gum – this is known as an “impacted” wisdom tooth.
Why don’t my wisdom teeth fit my mouth?
There are a few theories as to why wisdom teeth don’t fit many people’s mouth. Some experts think genetics may play a part – for example you may have inherited one parent’s small jaw, and another parent’s large teeth. Another theory suggests the size of your mouth has decreased over the centuries, because our diet has changed and our jaws don’t need to be as large and strong as they were in prehistoric times.
PERICORONITIS
Wisdom teeth do not always emerge (erupt) into the mouth properly because there may not be enough room in the mouth for them to fit. Sometimes, a part of the tooth may remain covered by a flap of gum. Food particles and bacteria can get trapped under this flap and cause a mild irritation, a low-grade infection called pericoronitis and swelling. This usually happens with the lower wisdom teeth.
Wisdom teeth extraction surgery involves removing the gum tissue that presides over the tooth. Wisdom teeth extraction is a common procedure. You will quickly feel the benefits after having problem wisdom teeth removed, alleviating any pain from their eruption and saving your smile from damage.