Wheres the Wisdom in Wisdom Teeth?
Although they’re called wisdom teeth, many people don’t see any wisdom in them. Often these teeth are troublemakers that decide to turn crooked, refuse to grow in completely, or become misshapen. Also called third molars, wisdom teeth are the rearmost teeth on each side of your top and bottom jaws. They arrive between ages 14 and 18. Because these teeth arrive last, they often enter a jaw that is already crowded. As a result, the last teeth in usually don’t get a seat on your gums. And if they do manage to squeeze in, often little or none of each tooth rises above the gums, becoming what dentists call impacted. Impacted teeth don’t always cause problems, but it is important to visit your dentist regularly so that he or she can monitor their arrival. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry says if you do need to have your wisdom teeth removed, it’s best to do that before age 20. This is the best time because the roots are only about one-third formed and the surrounding bone is gener
