Your child’s wisdom teeth: What do you need to know?
Wisdom teeth. We all get them… but then again, some people don’t seem to get all of them, or they come in at odd angles.
So what’s going on with your child’s wisdom teeth? Let’s discuss.
Looking for guidance on teenage teeth more broadly? Check out our dental care for teens guide.
Let’s start with the wisdom teeth basics
When do wisdom teeth come through?
Wisdom teeth are generally the last adult teeth to erupt, and are also known as our third molars. Typically they will arrive after all the other permanent teeth are in place, at around the age your teen turns 17 to 25 years old – they were once considered a sign of growing wisdom, hence the name!
Why do wisdom teeth appear so late?
Teeth grow in quite an organised fashion in the human body. From our first baby teeth that erupt before we turn one year old to our permanent teeth, which usually finish coming in at around 12 years old, they are on a bit of a schedule.
Wisdom teeth typically don’t start to develop until a child turns 10, which means they just aren’t ready to erupt until later in life.
Does everyone get wisdom teeth?
No, although science isn’t quite sure why that is.
Some people get all four, some people only get a few, and there are young people who get none at all.
Indeed, one study took a look at a group of nearly 4,000 patients and found that only 54% of them had at least one third molar.
Common problems with wisdom teeth
Why do so many young adults have to get wisdom teeth removed?
One of the big issues with wisdom teeth is that the average human face these days just doesn’t have enough room for them anymore. In fact, our third molars are considered vestigial organs nowadays – that is, parts of the body that no longer have a function (like the appendix).
It’s thought that, before humans were really humans at all, our distant ancestors probably had quite a coarse diet of roots, meat, nuts and leaves. To chew through these rough foods, we would have needed more chewing power – and that meant there was a need for wisdom teeth.
Now, though, the modern diet is a lot softer and we have implements to help us cut food up. Over time our jaws have gotten smaller, and we just don’t require the extra teeth. But, we still get them – so they just don’t always have proper room to grow.
This can lead to them coming in impacted or crooked in a teen’s mouth, which may cause further complications and necessitate the need for their removal.
Learn more: “Wisdom teeth pain”
Impacted wisdom teeth, and what to do about it
Sometimes your child’s wisdom teeth may grow at a steep angle and don’t fully emerge, if at all. This is known as impaction, and it can cause a few complications.
So what can an impacted wisdom tooth do to their mouth?
Damage the neighbouring molar, if a wisdom tooth grows into the already-taken space.
Cause jaw pain, inflammation, bleeding or swelling.
Contribute to tooth decay and infection – an impacted tooth may be hard to clean, and if you can’t clean out the bacteria then they may turn into plaque (leading to gingivitis).
In some occasions, fluid-filled sacs known as cysts can form on the soft tissue. This could cause even more damage to the surrounding tissue and bone.
Do I need my wisdom teeth removed?
If one or more of your wisdom teeth has become impacted and it’s causing further complications, they may need to come out.
This will involve a simple tooth extraction, or a surgical procedure – depending on the severity of the impaction and whether or not they can be pulled out.
Learn more:
— “A few words on wisdom tooth extractions”
— What to eat after tooth extraction
— Our tooth extraction services
Need to talk to someone? Come in to see us
You don’t have to be able to diagnose your child’s wisdom teeth problems at home. If you’re concerned at all about their wisdom teeth (or lack thereof), come in to see us at Kowhai Dental and we can examine the area, take x-rays, and talk to you about what you need to do.
Call us on 09 430 0707, pop in to see us on Maunu Road, or book your appointment online today.