Wisdom teeth aren’t anything new. But our knowledge on these teeth have continued to progress and expand. Did you know that more than 80% of people will have their wisdom teeth extracted at some point in their life?
“Many people wonder why wisdom teeth even exist if they’re typically removed,” says Dr. Maryam Adibfar, a leading Toronto dentist. “It’s a common question we receive at our Davisville dental office so we wanted to share our wisdom on wisdom teeth with you.”
Wisdom Teeth: Expanding Your Oral Health Knowledge
1 Wisdom teeth weren’t always there: Your wisdom teeth will likely appear between 16 and 25 years old. They get their name because they make an entrance in your wiser years.
2 Your wisdom teeth don’t always need to be removed: Many people believe that all wisdom teeth need to be removed. But that’s actually not the case. “Sometimes the wisdom teeth will not overcrowd the jaw or cause any future issues such as infection,” says Dr. Adibfar. “It’s important to see your trusted dentist when your wisdom teeth begin to appear so they can evaluate your teeth and jaw. This will let them make the right decision about extraction.”
3 Wisdom teeth may become extinct: Human teeth continue to evolve. A study that came out this year predicted that wisdom teeth may not be around forever. As our bodies continue to change as time goes on, we may see a different combination of teeth in the future.
4 Removing wisdom teeth isn’t black and white: There’s been a long held belief that wisdom teeth should be removed before 18 years old. “While it is better to remove wisdom teeth at the earliest age possible, the decision isn’t so cut and dry as we once thought,” explains Dr. Adibfar. “If and when wisdom teeth are removed should be decided on a case-by-case basis. There are a lot of other factors such as root development and crowding that should be taken into consideration beyond just age.” Your dentist will be able to determine the right time to remove your wisdom teeth to keep your smile as healthy as possible.
Next Steps
Do you or a family member have wisdom teeth beginning to appear? We encourage you to call our team to schedule a check-up. During this time we’ll be able to appropriately evaluate your teeth and make the right decisions about what action should be taken, if any.