When you say wisdom teeth, you are actually referring to a type of teeth called molars. Molars usually grow at the back of the teeth line and the jaw. This type of teeth is intended for chewing and grinding food for better digestion. Molars are further classified by positions. The closest to the mouth opening are considered first molars. The second molars naturally come after the first and last set is called the third molars. The third molars are not the only ones that grow the farthest; they also usually come out the latest. This is why they are referred to as wisdom teeth. They grow later in life when a person is believed to have gained some wisdom in life. The eruption of wisdom teeth usually takes place during the young adolescent stage. Although there are cases that eruption occurs after this stage. Typically, there are four wisdom teeth that appear in a person; two at the upper end on each side and two at the lower portion of the mouth, on each side.
“Impacted” is a dental term that describes the position and development of a tooth. A tooth is impacted when it was not able to fully erupt and take a normal position. This occurrence usually happens to wisdom teeth. This is because impaction takes place when there is insufficient space for a tooth to grow normally. Since wisdom teeth are the last set of teeth that come out, they become impacted if the jaw cannot accommodate such teeth. When an impacted wisdom tooth insists on coming out, it is forced to grow in a different angle. There is also the risk that the impacted wisdom tooth’s roots and tissues get tangled with the neighboring tooth and this when complications happen.
Impacted wisdom teeth are very common to several people but there are cases when they are not noticed. There are cases when people become surprised when impacted wisdom teeth symptoms.
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