Wisdom teeth usually grow in between the ages of about 17 and 21.
Wisdom teeth grow in sets of two on the top and the bottom, and they are situated at the back of the mouth, behind your molars, for a total of four new teeth.
Generally, people have 28 teeth. When the wisdom teeth come in, they will have 32 teeth.
When Will the Dentist Start Watching for Wisdom Teeth?
We do regular xray screening keeping an eye out for developing wisdom teeth, especially in adolescents and people in their early 20’s.
What Are the Symptoms of Wisdom Teeth Coming In?
Sensitivity and swelling can be a key indicator that your wisdom teeth are coming in. Some swelling and sensitivity can be common even when the teeth are growing in in a healthy position. It’s a great idea to visit a dentist at this point though to determine if the teeth are growing in nice and straight or not. If you are experiencing pain, get in to see a dentist as quickly as possible.
It is common for wisdom teeth to be impacted. If the teeth are impacted, the wisdom tooth and root will continue to grow but won’t have enough room to develop properly.
Infection can occur when wisdom teeth only partially erupt (poke out). If this is the case, having the wisdom teeth extracted can be time sensitive.
Impacted teeth can sometimes cause headaches. The teeth can be lodged against other teeth or bone and causing pressure that can cause headaches. The dentist can catch this with x-rays and recommend the best actions to take.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction – Just in Case
Hopefully you or your kids won’t need this procedure, but if you do you might be relieved to know that getting wisdom teeth extracted is a fairly common procedure.
Extraction can be necessary because wisdom teeth often don’t come in perfectly aligned and fitted into the mouth. They can come in very crowded or sideways or become impacted (stuck and unable to grow in properly) against other teeth or bone.
A Bit of History – Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are considered evolutionary. Our cave people ancestors had a much rougher diet chewing on sticks and roughage. These teeth coming in later in life would have been a real life saver for them. For us with our softer diet (and modern dental care!) these teeth aren’t as necessary.
Kits Family Dental Can Help
We do xray screening regularly to watch for developing wisdom teeth. We sometimes see wisdom teeth starting to develop from as early as age 14, usually before the parents have begun to think of it!
We’re experienced in working with older patients that have wisdom teeth as well.
Contact
Contact Kits Family Dental for an appointment. As is our motto, preventative care is really the way to go in dentistry and it is definitely the case with wisdom teeth. If we can prevent a patient from reaching a point where their wisdom teeth are impacted and painfully infected, we consider this very important work.
Read some amazing reviews from our happy customers:
- Our Vancouver Dentist Reviews on: Google
- Our Vancouver Dentist Reviews on: FaceBook
- Our Vancouver Dentist Reviews on: Our Testimonials Page
Phone: 1-604-738-1816 or 1-847-731-8646
Email: info@kitsfamilydental.com
