Common problems with third molars

The third molar, also known as wisdom tooth, is the eighth and last tooth that grows in the jaw. It usually appears in the 20s when a person becomes ‘wise”. This is actually a residue of evolution when people needed all their teeth for crushing and grinding hard food. Today, these teeth, because of the types and ways of food consumption, have lost their purpose. Since they can lead to many problems in the mouth, it is possible that you will have to face their extraction at some point of your life.

Due to their location in the mouth, it is much more difficult to maintain and monitor their state. Wisdom teeth are often pushing surrounding teeth and making trouble in the jaw. In such cases, it is good to remove them as soon as possible even if they are healthy in order to prevent potential problems. When and how will third molars be extracted depends on the issues you have.

If there is a cyst around a wisdom tooth this means that the neighboring teeth are in danger too. Such extraction is more complicated because the cyst is practically a hole in the bone and at that point the bone is a lot thinner. If the intervention is rough it can lead to cracking of the jaw. A similar situation exists when third molars don’t have enough room to grow properly and as a final result an infection grows around this area. If the infection reappears it may also lead to destruction of the bone. In the case of dislocation, wisdom tooth may grow below the gingival edge, sideways, pushing the roots of adjacent teeth and causing a lot of pain. However, if it grows away from the dental arch it can rest and in this case we should perform regular check-ups.

Wisdom teeth are also extracted in cases of growing which results in compression of existing teeth and this is an especially unpleasant occurrence when the teeth have orthodontic great line-up because wisdom teeth can ruin this line-up. Your dentist will be able to see what exactly is going on at an orthopantograph (X-ray of your teeth).

If you have chosen extraction, you should do this as soon as possible, preferably in your twenties while the root of the teeth and jaws are not yet fully developed. In the thirties the bones will become hardened and recovery will take longer.