The Wisdom Teeth Question

Those who have never had problems with their wisdom teeth are a part of a small group of people. For one reason or another, whether it be a result of the modern diet, allergies, behavioral patterns, or another reason, most people’s mouths are too small to accommodate wisdom teeth. The increased prevalence of underdeveloped jaws in our population begs the question, are wisdom teeth dangerous to beautiful smiles?

Jaw Size and Wisdom Teeth

When observed over time, the size of the human jaw has decreased. This consistent decrease has correlated with increased issues with their jaw development. This underdevelopment is likely the result of:

• Genetic factors
• Behavioral factors
• Diet

Smaller jaws can be detrimental to wisdom teeth. Because they erupt later in life compared to other teeth, there’s often not enough room left in the mouth for them once the other teeth have come in. When wisdom teeth come in they can disrupt a person’s dental alignment by becoming impacted or by becoming infected.

Health Effects of Wisdom Teeth

How can wisdom teeth affect someone’s health? In addition to making someone’s smile less physically appealing via crowding, wisdom teeth can also cause other health issues. Some of those issues include:

• TMJ pain
• Sinus problems
• Cavities
• Cyst formation

TMJ Pain

As wisdom teeth come in, they often grow in at an angle and push up against your other teeth. This impaction can lead to pain and discomfort. Due to the insufficient space for the teeth, the jaw joint takes on additional strain and tension. This strain and dysfunction around the jaw joint can lead patients to experience symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).

Sinus Problems

When the upper wisdom teeth begin to grow in, they can cause pressure to build up and lead to congestion, sinus pain, and headaches.

Cavities

Wisdom teeth come in at the back of the mouth, which is notoriously harder to clean. Because accessing teeth in the back of the mouth is more difficult, it can lead to them not being cleaned thoroughly enough, which makes it easier for bacteria to come in and create cavities.

Cyst Formation

Wisdom teeth are also known to cause cysts, or a pocket of fluid in the gums. These cysts can cause bone degeneration and often need to be removed along with the tooth to prevent further complications.

Avoiding Jaw Underdevelopment Complications

An underdeveloped jaw can lead to multiple risks for patients. For more information about your jaw development and any risks, you may face, schedule a consultation with Dr. Buck by calling our office at 425-361-7499.