Wisdom Teeth

There are many parts of the human body that have become antiquated and useless to typical human needs in the year 2018. Since the existence of first humans, we have lost and gained a variety of attributes, such as thick hair all over the body for warmth or a hunter-gatherer mindset. However, one adaptation that still remains with many humans is an extra set of molars that grows in separately from the rest of our adult teeth, otherwise known as wisdom teeth. Most scientists believe we developed wisdom teeth because our diet was once vastly different, and we needed to be able to chew much tougher food in order to survive. But since the foods we consume daily are much gentler on our teeth now, there is no need for a third set of molars to chew our food. Despite this, wisdom teeth still grow in most humans, which creates a pesky problem of needing them removed. Some people may let their wisdom teeth grow in fully and although some pain may be felt, that will be the only small side effect. Yet, many dentists suggest removing wisdom teeth before they begin to grow in because your mouth will typically not have enough space for them, or they may be impacted, and it will cause immense discomfort.

Wisdom teeth are easily discoverable through X-rays at your normal dental exam. The most common age for wisdom teeth removal is during your late teens or early 20’s and is an extremely common procedure. You may be put under anesthesia for the surgery, depending on the situation. You may need to take off about a week from work or school to recover from the surgery, and will be prescribed pain medications to help with discomfort. If your wisdom teeth have not grown in yet, it is important to stay up-to-date with your dental exams so that you can have accurate X-rays and be able to plan when, and if, you should remove them. If you have any questions about your wisdom teeth, the staff at Lake City Dental is here to help, so call (386) 752 8531 to set up an appointment for your next dental exam.