Under the right circumstances, your teeth can serve you well for your whole life, allowing you to eat all of your favorite foods and enjoy meaningful conversation with your family and friends. However, some teeth end up causing problems – specifically, the wisdom teeth are notorious for stubbornly erupting in a bizarre manner. Continue reading to learn more about these teeth and why they can sometimes erupt at odd, horizontal angles – as well as why it’s usually best to undergo wisdom tooth extraction to protect your future oral wellness.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth refer to the third set of molars that are found at the very back of the mouth. While our ancestors greatly benefitted from having these teeth, since they assisted with eating a coarser diet, these days, many patients don’t have enough room inside of their mouths for the teeth – plus, food has generally become easier to prepare and eat. This leads to the majority of people having their wisdom teeth removed, as a preventive measure to thwart a long list of potential oral health issues. In fact, wisdom tooth removal is one of the most common surgical procedures performed!
Why Do Wisdom Teeth Grow At Odd Angles?
Teeth are stubborn, to say the least, and often, they seemingly have minds of their own! Wisdom teeth are no exception, and there are many factors that can cause them to erupt sideways or at improper angles, rather than vertically.
Consequently, it’s often a limited amount of space in the jaw that prompts these teeth to erupt improperly or sideways, crowding other teeth and leading to potential pain and infection. This is tied to the evolutionary reduction in jaw size among humans. Physical trauma or damage to surrounding teeth can also cause the wisdom teeth to grow horizontally, as well as ongoing periodontal issues like gum disease. Genetic factors can also play a role, as some patients are simply predisposed to smaller jaw sizes (or in rarer cases, no wisdom teeth whatsoever).
Do Horizontal Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?
The sooner impacted wisdom teeth are addressed, the more potential oral health issues and complications can be prevented or treated, with a far lower risk of long-term problems. You may be surprised to learn that experiencing discomfort as wisdom teeth erupt doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll need yours extracted; however, if there’s a risk of a complication or infection, your dentist will typically recommend extraction.
If you’re experiencing pain, swelling, or other concerning symptoms that could involve the wisdom teeth, don’t delay in letting your dentist know; the pain isn’t something you should want to live with, but more importantly, the teeth might be unknowingly growing in sideways and causing issues for the rest of your smile!
About the Practice
The talented team at South Florida Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery has proudly served patients in Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Royal Palm Beach, and West Palm Beach for several years. They offer a wide variety of services, including full-service dental implant placement for patients who need to rebuild their smiles and restore their quality of life. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with the team to schedule an appointment for yourself or a loved one, please feel free to reach out online or call today for more information or assistance. Jupiter Office Telephone: (561) 203-5744.