Wisdom teeth and the space problem

Somewhere between ages 17 and 25, most people get an unwelcome surprise in the back of their mouth. Wisdom teeth, the third and final set of molars, are notorious for causing problems most other teeth never do.

The issue usually comes down to space, and there's an evolutionary reason for that squeeze. By the time wisdom teeth try to emerge, the jaw is often already full. This can cause them to come in at an angle, get partially stuck beneath the gum line (impaction), or push against neighboring teeth. Any of these situations can lead to pain, swelling, infection, or crowding of teeth that were previously well aligned.

Not every wisdom tooth causes problems. Some people have enough room and their wisdom teeth come in perfectly aligned, causing no issues at all. Others need extraction to prevent complications down the line. A dentist can usually tell through an X-ray whether your wisdom teeth have enough room or are likely to cause trouble.

If your wisdom teeth are giving you grief, you're in very good company. It's one of the most common dental procedures for a reason. And once they're out (or if they never cause an issue at all), it's simply one less thing to think about.