Wisdom Teeth
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- Q Why do I need to have my wisdom teeth removed?
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Wisdom teeth that are healthy and properly positioned can be an asset. Commonly, however, wisdom teeth are misaligned or erupt only partially, or not at all. They remain trapped beneath the gum and bone or crowded by other teeth. Wisdom teeth may... Full Answer
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- Q How do evolution opponents explain our lessening reliance on wisdom teeth?
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Experts who are skeptical of evolution usually attribute our lessening reliance on wisdom teeth to modern man's rapid change in diet. Early on, our diet consisted of plenty of raw and hard foods that required a great deal of chewing and more... Full Answer
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- Q Are wisdom teeth vestigial organs?
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Wisdom teeth are considered a vestigial organ -- no longer useful -- because our diet has evolved. Early humans ate a mostly raw diet of foraged plants and hunted animals, which required a lot of rough chewing. That wore down their teeth. By the... Full Answer
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- Q Is there a downside to removing wisdom teeth?
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After your wisdom teeth are removed you will probably experience some pain and discomfort. Wisdom teeth are also called the third molars and are the last set of teeth to emerge. Wisdom teeth often get stuck, or impacted, as they try to erupt... Full Answer
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- Q Is there any way to tell if my wisdom teeth will erupt?
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Unfortunately, there are no good predictors of which third molars will erupt or grow and what that may mean for your oral health. Even after you get older, your wisdom teeth remain unpredictable and could grow through your gums at any time. Full Answer
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- Q Are there any concerns about having wisdom teeth removed too early?
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Some surgeons may recommend that wisdom teeth be removed in children around age 12, but typically the jaw is still growing and the teeth are buried deep in the bone at that age. This can makes the procedure more complicated. Full Answer
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- Q What are the pros and cons of extracting all of my wisdom teeth?
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If you have all of your wisdom teeth extracted, you can avoid potential problems with them in the future. The downside is the pain, cost, and potential for complications resulting from the procedure. A hole in your sinus, nerve damage, or numbness in... Full Answer
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- Q What are the pros and cons of leaving my wisdom teeth in?
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If you take a wait-and-see approach and leave your wisdom teeth alone, you may avoid unnecessary surgery. However, the downside is that you may experience problems later, perhaps at a time that is not convenient to have surgery or at an age that makes... Full Answer
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- Q Do wisdom teeth have a different function than other teeth?
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Wisdom teeth are no different than other teeth and serve the same function if they grow in properly, are surrounded by healthy gums, and have a proper bite relationship. Full Answer
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- Q How are wisdom teeth removed?
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During a wisdom tooth extraction, the surgeon removes the gum tissue over the tooth and detaches the tissue connecting the tooth to the bone. Then the tooth is removed, and the hole in your gum is sutured (stitched). Full Answer
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