Hi there! Are your wisdom teeth growing? Are they painful? Are you wondering what to do with them?  Keep reading!

Some may not know exactly what they are, and why it is that you might be feeling pain and discomfort, but worry not, we’ve got you!

Wisdom teeth, AKA “third molars” are teeth right at the back of your mouth, and are the final set of molars to erupt. They serve the same functions as your other molars i.e for crushing and grinding your food during eating.

Wisdom teeth usually grow between the ages of 17 and 21, but can also appear in people who are slightly older.  Plot twist: it is not uncommon for people never to develop them at all nor for them to never appear in the mouth even though they are there.

Fun fact: Historically, wisdom teeth were known as ‘useless and impractical teeth’, but they have proven to be of much use to people who have lost a tooth. Soooo we wouldn’t go as far as to say they are not useful!

Why do they sometimes hurt?

Well, in some cases wisdom teeth grow vertically, and this promotes the normal growth of the teeth which may not hurt or cause discomfort.

Unfortunately, in other cases, and a lot of them- because wisdom teeth grow last, wisdom teeth do not grow ‘normally’ because there is insufficient space, and this may result in impaction.

Impaction occurs when wisdom teeth do not have enough space or room to grow normally.

Impacted wisdom teeth may be vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease because they are quite hard to clean – some people just can’t get all the way back there when brushing.

Good news! Impacted wisdom teeth can be removed under general anaesthesia in theatre or right from your favourite dentist’s chair under local anaesthesia.

FAQ – “Do I have to take out my wisdoms?”

NO! If your wisdoms have grown normally, there is enough space in the mouth, and you can clean them well, you probably will never have to remove them. Lucky you!

Your dentist will determine whether they require removal or not by clinical exam and x-ray, but unless there’s a reason they find makes removal necessary, you’re saved from extraction.

If your wisdom teeth are causing you too much pain and trouble, we recommend you book a visit at one of Dr Bee Inc branches – we are more than happy to help you make an informed decision on whether to get them removed or not.

Dr Bee’s top tip:

Wisdoms are rebels, they follow no rules and are always late to a packed party. Everyone has a different experience with their wisdoms and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. So just let your dentist be your dentist and help you tailor the best treatment for your particular crushers.

Are you worried about the healing process after your wisdom teeth have been extracted?

We’ve got you covered.

[vcj_button text=”Wisdom Aftercare” url=”https://doctorbee.co.za/wisdom-aftercare/” target=”_self” alignment=”center” size=”small” font_weight=”500″ radius=”4rem” border_size=”0″ full=”” text_color=”#000000″ text_hover_color=”#ffffff” background_color=”#ebc6bc” background_hover_color=”#ebc6bc” border_color=”#000000″ border_hover_color=”#ffffff” animation_speed=”2″ animation_delay=”0″]
[vcj_button text=”Book Appointment” url=”https://doctorbee.co.za/contact/” target=”_self” alignment=”center” size=”small” font_weight=”500″ radius=”4rem” border_size=”0″ full=”” text_color=”#000000″ text_hover_color=”#ffffff” background_color=”#ebc6bc” background_hover_color=”#ebc6bc” border_color=”#000000″ border_hover_color=”#ffffff” animation_speed=”2″ animation_delay=”0″]