For most people, the very mention of wisdom teeth brings back memories of sore gums and aching teeth. Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to form in an adult mouth, the four teeth in the mouth in top and below behind the molars. Their appearance is at any time from mid to late puberty all the way to adulthood. They vary in size and formation but almost always form for most people. However, some people never experience the joy or pain of having them.
Before considering wisdom tooth extraction in Maple Grove, MN, it is important to understand just what they are. Why do we have them if all they ever do is cause problems? Apparently, wisdom teeth are part of what used to be the jaws of our ancestors. They had larger jaws to provide a bigger surface area for chewing food, but as the world changed, human physiology changed with it. These teeth, however, remain and are much like the tailbone without an actual tail.
Dentists in Champlin, MN often meet patients who have been made to believe a wide range of myths about wisdom teeth. One of the most common ones is the belief that when they emerge, they will push other teeth to the periphery and cause crowding. However, multiple studies have shown that wisdom teeth do not actually cause any form of crowding. After they have fully developed, they are unable to exert any pressure. People have teeth shifting all the time throughout their lives, regardless of whether they have wisdom teeth or have had them removed. Teeth crowding problems are real, but they are not related to the presence or absence or wisdom teeth.
What is true though is the fact that wisdom teeth can sometimes cause pain in the ear. Another problem commonly associated with wisdom teeth is that of jaw popping, though this might also be as a result of a temporal mandibular joint problem. This is a long standing, chronic condition that causes destruction, inflammation and destruction of a joint.
A quality St. Anthony, MN dentist will likely give the following reasons for removal of wisdom teeth;
- Elective treatment
- Asymptomatic pathologic conditions
Removal of wisdom teeth can either be a complex process or a relatively simple one. The difference lies in the choice of dentist. Go for Twin Cities Dental today. Visit the company website for more information. You can also follow them on Twitter for more updates.
