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Wisdom
Teeth:
Wisdom teeth, also known as "third molars" are the last teeth to
erupt. This occurs usually between the ages of 17 and 25. There
remains a great deal of controversy regarding whether or not these teeth
need to be removed. It is generally suggested that teeth that remain
completely buried or un-erupted in a normal position are unlikely to cause
harm. However, if these impacted teeth are in an abnormal position (a
dentist can show you this on an x-ray) their potential for harm should be
assessed.
What
is an impacted wisdom tooth?
A tooth becomes
impacted due to lack of space in the dental arch and its eruption is
therefore prevented by gum, bone, another tooth or all three. Lack of
space occurs because our jaws become smaller (through evolution), we do not
loose teeth through decay as frequently as in the past, and our diet is
such that our teeth do not wear down as much.
Why
should an impacted wisdom tooth be removed if it hasn't caused any trouble?
Impacted wisdom teeth
are almost certain to cause problems if left in place. This is
particularly true of the lower wisdom teeth. Such problems may occur
suddenly, and often at the most inconvenient times.
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