What are Wisdom Teeth and Why Might They Need to be Removed?
Located in the very back of the mouth, wisdom teeth are the last and final set of molars to emerge, typically between the ages of 14 and 30. Some people never develop wisdom teeth. While wisdom teeth often cause no issues at all, they can sometimes lead to complications for some people. If left untreated, problematic wisdom teeth can result in tooth decay, pain, occlusion issues and gum disease.
Limited space in your mouth can hinder proper growth of wisdom teeth, leading to various challenges. Partial eruption, where wisdom teeth emerge only partially through the gums, can cause crowding, gum infections, cavities and significant discomfort. Wisdom teeth may also grow at angles, leading to crowding and potential damage to neighboring molars. Impacted wisdom teeth occur when there is not enough room for them to erupt properly, causing them to become trapped in the gums and potentially leading to bacterial growth and painful gum infections.