Many of us have heard of a friend or family member who has had their wisdom teeth removed. It is a very common procedure, but it makes you wonder what wisdom teeth are for and why they are taken out so often. The Oyster Bay Family Dentists here in Oyster Bay, NY want to inform their patients of why wisdom teeth are around and the benefits of removing them.
Wisdom teeth are thought to have had a purpose around 20,000 years ago, but not so much now. Back then, humans may have needed an extra set of teeth to chew through the hard items in their diet like roots and uncooked meat. Since then, the sizes of our jaws and face have gotten smaller; explaining why many of us do not have enough room for wisdom teeth.
Since wisdom teeth create an overcrowded mouth for many of us, this creates several problems that are solved when we extract them. When the teeth do not have enough room to grow in correctly, they can damage other teeth, create hard-to-reach places, or become impacted; meaning they are completely or partially stuck in the jaw. Impacted teeth can cause gum disease by trapping bacteria under the gum tissue that is still present over the chewing surface.
While wisdom teeth may have had a purpose in the past, problems with them are frequent these days. If you are experiencing issues with your wisdom teeth growing in, schedule an examination with The Oyster Bay Family Dentists of Oyster Bay, NY by calling (516) 922-5730 or by visiting our website, www.oysterbaydentists.com.
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