Primarily genetics and ethnicity decide who can get wisdom teeth. They are removed in case of infection, decay, or damage to avoid any serious oral infection.

1. WISDOM
TEETH:
Why We Have Them and
When to Remove Them
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2. Anthropologists suggest that wisdom teeth were
once essential for grinding and chewing raw,
tough foods that comprised the diet of our early
ancestors. The invention of fire eventually
allowed us to cook and soften these foods.
Ultimately, we began to depend less and less on
wisdom teeth for chewing food, evolving beyond
our need to rely on a third set of molars.
However, we pass on genes for wisdom teeth,
much like we still carry genes for developing an
appendix or tailbone. Which means, most of us
will have at least one wisdom tooth.
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Wisdom teeth typically emerge between the ages
of 18 and 21. Some people will have all four
wisdom teeth erupt, while others may only see
one or two emerge behind their last molars.
Some young adults may not have any wisdom
teeth at all. Genetics and ethnicity primarily
determine who does and does not get wisdom
teeth.
WHAT ARE WISDOM TEETH?
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3. WHEN DENTAL X-RAYS
SHOW WISDOM TEETH
THAT HAVEN’T ERUPTED
Just because you have wisdom teeth embedded
below the gumline doesn’t mean they will
emerge. Oral x-rays can tell a dentist whether
unerupted wisdom teeth need to be removed. The
main reason for extracting wisdom teeth is their
positioning beneath the gumline.
In most cases, wisdom teeth that fail to come in
are either lying sideways or cannot emerge due
to space restrictions. The clinical term used by
dentists for describing abnormally positioned
wisdom teeth is “impacted”. Nearly all cases of
wisdom teeth removal are due to impaction.
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4. Impacted wisdom teeth can be
painful. What’s worse is that
they can easily become infected.
Signs of pericoronitis (infection
of impacted wisdom teeth)
include:
IMPACTED WISDOM TOOTH
SYMPTOMS
Painful, swollen gums
Puss discharge and/or bleeding around the
affected area
Bad breath that can’t be brushed or rinsed
away
Swollen lymph nodes and low-grade fever
Inability to chew using molars because of
severe pain
Before removing impacted wisdom teeth, dentists
may prescribe an antibiotic to eliminate
infection. Extracting impacted wisdom teeth
during an active infection could cause the
infection to spread into other areas of the body.
According to the American Dental Association,
wisdom teeth should be removed if they become
infected, cause damage other teeth, or show
signs of decay. Neglecting to get impacted
wisdom teeth removed may cause more serious
oral infections.
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5. SHOULD SO-CALLED
“HEALTHY” WISDOM
TEETH BE REMOVED?
Even if your wisdom teeth emerge normally or
have been detected on x-rays and seem to be
posing no problem, you should still consider
wisdom teeth removal to avoid future dental
issues. Wisdom teeth can reposition themselves
at any time while embedded in gums. This can
quickly lead to impaction and infection.
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Wisdom teeth are also more prone to developing
cavities than other teeth. These teeth sit very far
back in the mouth and can be hard to reach. Many
people have difficulty brushing and flossing the
area properly, so wisdom teeth tend to develop
cavities faster than other teeth.

6. IS WISDOM TEETH
REMOVAL PAINFUL?
Many people have anxiety about dental
procedures and surgery. Discussing your care
options and comfort level with your doctor is the
best way to have a successful extraction.
If wisdom teeth have begun to erupt it’s likely
that your extraction will be done without
sedation. Instead, your mouth will be numbed
with injections of a dental anesthetic. You may
feel a tugging or pulling sensation during the
procedure but no pain.
Most patients experience numbness for several
hours after. This is followed by minimal
discomfort for a few days that can be relieved
with over-the-counter pain relievers.
Surgical removal of embedded wisdom teeth may
require patients be given general anesthesia. This
is particularly true for those who need all four
wisdom teeth extracted. Sedation for wisdom
teeth usually lasts for about an hour.
Recovering from wisdom tooth removal usually
takes about two days. Depending on the number
of teeth being extracted, your dentist may
prescribe pain medication to be taken after the
anesthesia wears off.
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7. www.hamburgdentalcare.com
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