Scholars and daydreamers alike have hypothesized regarding the root use of the third molar, or wisdom tooth. The general school of thought dates back to the cavemen.

It’s believed that the Stone Age man’s diet caused extensive tooth damage. (Chewing raw animal flesh, stones, bones and plant tissue will do that, I suppose.) This damage gave way to more room in the jawbone, making plenty of room for new teeth to grow when Captain Caveman reached old age. Thusly, the caveman made good use of four extra teeth to chew its prey to bits.

Good for the Cave Man, Bad for Us

Our soft diet makes the four wisdom teeth we get (two on the bottom, two on the top) utterly useless. By and large, wisdom teeth do nothing more than cause pain and inconvenience. Unless there is room for them to grow in your jaw, the act of these coming in shifts the rest of your teeth. If your parents spent thousands on orthodontia, wisdom teeth will just undo years of your Ortho’s magic.

What Makes Wisdoms “Impacted?”

This means the tooth has not fully emerged into its proper position. This happens because there isn’t enough space in your jawbone to accommodate these new wanna-be residents.

They’re Coming in, Now What?

You will need to speak to your general dentist for his/her opinion, but oral surgery is generally your best option. Get them removed before they start to move the rest of your teeth.

What if I Don’t Want Them Extracted?

Possible complications in keeping your wisdom teeth:

- Decay -- Bacteria and food particles can gather around a partially erupted wisdom, causing it or the nearby tooth to rot.

- Gum Infection -- As these teeth are usually partially under the gum line, this can enable a new bacterial storage area: under the gum. This can cause infection, bad breath, pain, even limited jaw movement.

- Pressure Pain -- This can occur as the teeth erupt.

- Orthodontics -- Braces or Invisalign® may crowd teeth.

- Prosthetics -- Dentures or bridges will need to be refit, in order to allow for the new shape of your gums (which will change as the wisdoms grow in).

- Cysts -- A fluid filled sac (cyst) can develop around the gum of an impacted wisdom. These are ugly, damaging pustules of bacteria. On rare occasions, a tumor can develop inside the cyst that can fracture the jaw!

My Wisdom Teeth Haven’t Come in, Now What?

Speak to your dentist; it is possible they’ll come in later in life, increasing your chances for complications. Furthermore, the younger you are, the faster you will recover from this surgery. Only your dentist can tell you with any certainty your risks, if any. You’ll undoubtedly know when they start to come in, make an appointment with your general dentist and together you will decide the best course of action.

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