Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth if They Usually Get Pulled Out?

Having wisdom teeth pulled can often make for a funny video afterwards. (Recently, two brothers convinced their sister that there was a zombie apocalypse happening). While this is all fun, it may leave you wondering why we even have wisdom teeth if so many of us need them pulled out. At Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, MO, we are going to explain why it’s thought we have them!

Well to start, we have teeth so we can chew our food properly. These days, we have a wide variety of foods, able to be prepared in all sorts of ways. Around 20,000 years ago, humans ate tougher foods in their diet, like nuts, roots, and raw meat. It is thought that wisdom teeth were needed to help them chew through their food better. In current times, we cook a lot of our meat; making it easier to chew through. We also cook much of our veggies, fruits, and grains!

Wisdom teeth have just become less and less necessary. In addition, human jaws and facial structures have actually gotten smaller since then. So these days, those unneeded wisdom teeth often do not even fit. If left alone, they can cause major pain, infection, and damage to other teeth. An interesting fact to know, though, is that there are some lucky people being born without wisdom teeth!

If you suspect your wisdom teeth are growing in, come in for an evaluation. To schedule an appointment in our Smithville, MO office, call us at (816) 532-8778 or visit our website, www.garrisondentistry.com. 

Wisdom Teeth Extractions

At Garrison Family Dentistry, wisdom teeth extractions are a fairly common procedure. Your last set of molars to come in, wisdom teeth usually emerge when you are between 17 and 21 years old. Since wisdom teeth can often become impacted, which means they come in at an angle rather than straight through the gums, it is many times necessary to remove them before they cause pain or begin to push on your other teeth.

 

If a wisdom tooth is impacted and can only emerge partially, it is possible for an operculum to form over the tooth. If this flap of skin forms, the tooth will be hard to clean and can be infected. This infection is called pericoronitis.

 

When a wisdom tooth is in danger of causing such problems, Dr. Matthew Garrison will extract the tooth. It is often necessary to remove all four at once. This is done either by using a local anesthetic or a general anesthetic, based on the preference of the doctors and patient and how far the wisdom teeth have emerged. After the anesthetic is applied, the gum tissue around the wisdom tooth is cut and the tooth is loosened and pulled out. If necessary, the gums will be sutured for healing.

 

After the surgery, rest is required, and you will need to change the gauze applied to the incision. To see if your wisdom teeth may need to be removed, schedule an appointment with us by calling 816-532-8778. For more information on our practice, visit www.garrisondentistry.com.