Your wisdom teeth, or third molars, are a completely unnecessary byproduct of evolution. Most San Francisco patients only have room in their mouth for 28 teeth. However, many patients come in because some or all four wisdom teeth have begun to erupt and cause severe discomfort. While this adaptation was helpful for our ancestors whose teeth suffered from a lack of dental hygiene, we no longer need these extra teeth and they often need to be removed before they cause problems such as:
- Bite misalignment
- Headaches
- Damage to bone and and adjacent teeth
- Bacterial infection
SF Oral Surgery recommends this multimedia presentation to provide you with a better understanding of wisdom teeth and why they may need to be removed. Many common questions from San Francisco patients pertaining to wisdom teeth are discussed.
When Do Wisdom Teeth Grow In?
Most San Francisco patients will have all of their adult teeth by the time they’re 13. But the wisdom teeth are the last to erupt, probably to replace teeth that our ancestors lost to infection and lack of dental care. Your wisdom teeth usually begin to erupt when you’re between 18 to 24 years old. Although San Francisco patients of all ages come in for wisdom tooth removal, the sooner you come in for treatment, the less risk you’ll develop more serious symptoms.