November 5, 2021

How to Deal with Wisdom Teeth in Teenagers

Wisdom teeth in teenagers might raise a lot of doubts regarding whether or not they need to be removed.

The emergence of wisdom teeth, a problem that affects teenagers and young adults, must be watched by an expert pediatric dentist at each appointment so that a proper treatment plan may be devised.

Let’s go over some of the fundamentals of wisdom teeth so we can answer some of the most often asked questions.

What are wisdom teeth, and what do they do?

Wisdom teeth, which occur in teenagers between the ages of 17 and 21, are so named because they appear when a child is older and more mature.

These teeth, sometimes known as ‘third molars,’ can cause dental difficulties if there isn’t enough room in the mouth to accept them.

However, this isn’t always the case. Some people have enough room in their mouth to have their wisdom teeth come in, and these extra teeth really help with chewing without causing any additional problems.

Every year, however, an estimated 5 million people in the United States have some or all of their wisdom teeth extracted.

This implies that if your adolescent exhibits any of the warning signals listed below, they should have their wisdom teeth evaluated to see if they need to be extracted.

The fact that wisdom teeth are a ‘leftover’ from when our human ancestors had to grind down plant stuff while eating is fascinating to most children.

Wisdom teeth, like the appendix and tailbone, are referred to as vestigial’ organs since they no longer serve the function they formerly did in ancestral humans.

Because our forefathers had wider jaws and shed teeth more frequently, their mouths had more room for more teeth. Wisdom teeth have become obsolete as a result of modern dental care and the evolution of our jaws, and may now be removed without affecting the body’s basic functions.

Wisdom teeth have become obsolete as a result of modern dental care and the evolution of our jaws, and may now be removed without affecting the body’s basic functions.

What are the indicators that your adolescent's wisdom teeth need to be extracted?

In most healthy people, there are 28 teeth in total, with wisdom teeth adding four more to the mouth.

Because there are 32 teeth in total, a shortage of space in the mouth might cause discomfort or suffering.

If your adolescent is experiencing any of the following problems, they should contact a pediatric dentist:

Swelling of the gums or face

Despite the fact that wisdom teeth do not appear until the ages of 17-21, pediatric dentists play a significant role in monitoring and analyzing their arrival.

Because pediatric dentists treat patients throughout their adolescent years, they can begin checking for wisdom teeth as soon as your child turns 15 or 16.

Because wisdom teeth can cause problems because the mouth is often too small to manage the arrival of these four new molars, your pediatric dentist will check for them every six months.

X-rays may be used to determine the arrival and alignment of your child’s four wisdom teeth.

X-rays are particularly useful in determining whether the wisdom teeth are impacted.

This indicates that they are still buried beneath the gums and are not breaking through.

This does not inherently imply that they must be extracted; rather, their position and the impact of wisdom teeth on surrounding teeth must be monitored.

Your child’s pediatric dentist may also refer them to an oral surgeon for a consultation on their wisdom teeth and whether or not they should be removed.

Is it really necessary to remove wisdom teeth?

Because the jaw has ceased developing throughout young adulthood, the introduction of four new teeth can cause complications and necessitate wisdom tooth evacuation.

As previously stated, not everyone requires wisdom tooth extraction, and some people only require partial extraction of their wisdom teeth.

If there is discomfort or swelling, it is evident that removing the impacted wisdom teeth will be advantageous in these situations.

Wisdom teeth rubbing up against other teeth might cause problems including damage or infection.

Furthermore, if a wisdom tooth emerges but does not fully erupt, it becomes more difficult to clean, perhaps leading to decay, cavities, or gum disease.

This is especially true because they are at the rear of the mouth, where brushing and flossing are more difficult.

The arrival and impact of wisdom teeth must be closely monitored, and your pediatric dentist can decide whether or not these new molars may create difficulties.

Ignoring a wisdom tooth that is likely to affect your existing teeth is not a good idea since it can cause a lot of pain, crooked teeth, and damage or dissolve the roots of your existing molars.

It is preferable to get wisdom teeth removed sooner rather than later.

Because the roots haven’t fully formed, they’re easier to remove and the recuperation time is quicker.

If the surgery is allowed to fully erupt, it can take a long time to recuperate.

When there are no evident indicators of pain or dental concerns, some people question whether wisdom teeth extraction is required.

Because wisdom teeth can erupt in a variety of ways and cause a variety of problems depending on where they are placed in the mouth, it is best to consult a pediatric dentist about your child’s teeth and how these third molars may affect their development as they progress from adolescence to adulthood.