Wisdom teeth emergence is experienced by over half of the adult population in the world. They are a final set of molars that grow later in early adulthood between ages 19 to 21. These teeth are deemed unnecessary and not functional to any food eating process, although it has played a good role in the past ages when our species had not still discovered softening and crushing food by cooking and using utensils.  

In these times, people who have a wisdom tooth have complained about discomfort and pain, and this is where professional care like the wisdom teeth removal Reston has become necessary and in-demand. 

When Do They Grow? 

As mentioned, wisdom teeth typically grow at later at 19 until early 21, although some cases are reported occurring until the age of 25. There are rare cases where they grow over the age of 25, but they still do occur due a variety of factors.  

 

There are also cases where the wisdom tooth is not visible on the surface but has grown inside the gum so it is still advised that the patient seeks oral medical attention to find out if he/she has some wisdom teeth hidden inside the gum. 

 

How can a Patient Tell if He has a Wisdom Tooth? 

As mentioned, wisdom teeth can be hidden and invisible to the eyes as they can grow within the gum. So, it is recommended to go visit the dentist regularly to check if the patient has a wisdom tooth through having some X-ray tests.  

 

Generally, the patient may feel a sharp pain in the jaw when the wisdom tooth starts growing. This is when the patient is advised to remove the tooth by means of surgery done by the professional oral medical surgeon or the general dentist. When left unextracted, the pain may become severe and may be accompanied by bleeding gums, difficulty eating, intense sensitivity, and bad breath. All of these symptoms are caused by the overcrowding teeth in the jaw. The discomfort that the patient experiences would develop leading to chronic pain and even damage.  

Is it Dangerous to Ignore Wisdom Teeth? 

Most of the people who have wisdom teeth seem to ignore the need for extraction because they do not feel any symptoms. Not experiencing the symptoms is typical especially when the wisdom tooth has just started to erupt. However, it eventually grows to the point it creates discomfort due to overcrowded teeth and incapable jaw.  

The damage may worsen to the point that it breaks gums and causes bleeding together with pain and inconvenience in eating. It can also grow sideways into the surrounding jaw bone and molar teeth that can cause severe dental and overall health problems. This case is often called an impacted tooth.  

Our mouth has connections to different parts of the body including the brain and heart, thus having problems such as infections and swelling can potentially affect other parts of the body aside from the pain and bleeding that dental problems can cause especially wisdom teeth.  

Thus, even if symptoms are still not experienced, it is advised that patients visit their dentists regularly to avoid future complications.