If you ask a child, they will tell you wisdom teeth make you smarter. While we wish this were true, the real reason why we have wisdom teeth is much different. Although times have changed, and the way we live has evolved, many years ago, wisdom teeth were essential for eating and survival for our ancestors. They were an essential piece for being able to eat, given that much of the food consumed was raw or very tough, and today many young adults, including prospective missionaries planning wisdom teeth removal, still need to manage these teeth carefully.
Today, wisdom teeth, or third molars, don’t serve their original functions anymore. With the advances in cooking and utensils, the need for the back set of molars, or wisdom teeth, have become obsolete. Some healthy wisdom teeth do not need to be removed if they are in the right position and there is enough room.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth and Modern Times
Wisdom teeth are not needed for survival today, which might be the reason why not everyone has them. Genetics are the determining factors of those who get wisdom teeth. While males are more likely to get them than females, they can be painful regardless, and parents often wonder when a child should be evaluated for wisdom teeth extraction. Most wisdom teeth, or your last set of molars, will erupt in your late teens to early adulthood, and they are typically removed between ages 17 and 22, with the early twenties considered one of the best ages to remove wisdom teeth.
Common symptoms when these molars finally erupt include pain and swelling, which are also key signs when you are trying to determine whether you have wisdom teeth. Some might never erupt, and impacted wisdom teeth issues occur in about 12% of cases, may crowd other teeth or contribute to tooth decay and gum disease, and can develop complications if left untreated. Impacted teeth can also be associated with periodontal disease, pericoronitis, an acute infection around impacted teeth, and other odontogenic infections; impacted teeth also lead to pathology in about 12% of cases. Cysts can form around impacted teeth in roughly 0.64% to 2.24% of cases, with a lining and cavity wall that include connective tissue. Over time, our build has changed. Our ancestors would have had wider mouths, with a bit of a larger jaw, allowing for more room as wisdom teeth grow and there may not be enough space for the other molars. While many of our appearances remain the same, there have been some changes over time.
Dealing with Wisdom Teeth Removal Today
The removal of wisdom teeth is common—53% of Americans had wisdom teeth removed in 2024—and these teeth can cause pain, shift other teeth, and create dental problems that may require wisdom tooth extraction and removal. A few factors help determine whether they need to be removed, including pain, an impacted tooth, or risk to surrounding tissues. If you are experiencing pain from wisdom teeth, especially severe pain, you need to visit your dentist and discuss having these removed, since removing wisdom teeth early can often prevent more serious problems and prescribed medication may ease pain. Your treatment options may include referral through the American Association guidance to an oral surgeon or oral and maxillofacial surgeon for surgical removal, a common same day outpatient procedure in oral and maxillofacial surgery settings, such as dedicated wisdom teeth removal in Mesquite, NV. The plan may also depend on how many wisdom teeth are involved. Anesthesia options can include local anesthesia to numb the area or general anesthesia for more complex wisdom teeth removal surgery. During the procedure, the surgeon may open the gums and gum tissue, remove soft tissue or some bone surrounding the tooth, and then have the wisdom teeth removed from the jaw area. Nerve damage is a possible but uncommon risk, and temporary nerve damage occurs in 1 in 85 patients after surgery.
Contact our office today, and we can help determine the best course of action for all your dental needs, including whether they need to be removed and how to follow your dentist’s instructions after removal and attend any follow up appointment. After sedation, patients rest in a recovery room before going home the same day, and the first day is usually the most uncomfortable; discomfort often improves in 2 to 3 days, full healing can take up to two weeks, and aftercare includes icing the jaw for 48 hours, eating soft foods, keeping the mouth clean, and avoiding a straw so the blood clot stays in place and dry socket risk is reduced. From wisdom teeth to preventive care, we have all your dental needs covered, including guidance on what to expect after wisdom teeth removal!