The wisdom teeth are the last teeth to develop; they are often synonymous with trouble because many people experience pain when their teeth start ti erupt. In many cases, the wisdom teeth push through without any problems, but if you do experience pain or your teeth become impacted, we are here to help.

About the wisdom teeth

The wisdom teeth are also known as the third molars; they are located at the very back of the mouth with one in each corner. The wisdom teeth are so-called because they erupt during adulthood, while the rest of the teeth develop during the childhood years. Most people start to get their wisdom teeth between the ages of 16 and 25 years old; however, this varies hugely and some people get their final teeth much later.

Problems with the wisdom teeth

The wisdom teeth are often associated with pain because some people find it very painful when their teeth finally start to erupt; in the vast majority of cases, this is due to the fact that there is a lack of room available in the jaw. If there is not enough space for the teeth to develop normally, they will become impacted; this means that the tooth starts to grow at an angle against the neighbouring tooth.

The wisdom teeth can also be painful if a tooth is decayed or infected; often, the wisdom teeth can be hard to clean because they are right at the back of the mouth and they are hard to reach with a toothbrush; this means that there is a higher risk of plaque developing on the teeth.

What can be done to relieve wisdom tooth pain?

If the wisdom teeth cause temporary problems while they are developing, but there is enough space and the pain dies down after the teeth have pushed through, no course of action is required. However, if the teeth are very painful, they are infected or they have become impacted, the best thing to do is usually to remove the tooth. Humans do not need wisdom teeth and if they are causing a lot of trouble the easiest solution is to take them out.

Wisdom tooth removal is similar to any other tooth extraction; however, in some cases, it may be more complex as a result of the position and angle of the tooth. In complex cases, patients are usually treated by a specialist oral surgeon.