Posted: November 27, 2022
People who don’t have problems when their wisdom teeth come in are few and far between. Why is that? The simple answer is that most people’s mouths aren’t big enough for their full set of adult teeth plus their wisdom teeth. The culprit is often jaw underdevelopment.
Smaller Jaws
In addition to genetic factors, environmental factors can also impact the extent that bones develop. While genes dictate how we could look, development is a long process that can be interrupted. Behavioral factors and diet can also play a part in the final result of growth.
Jaw size is especially important in the case of wisdom teeth because they erupt later than other teeth. While the majority of a person’s teeth find their final resting place around ages 12-14, wisdom teeth don’t usually come in until ages 17-21. This late eruption can disrupt bite alignment and cause crowding.
The Impact of Wisdom Teeth
What are the consequences of an underdeveloped jaw and the late eruption of a person’s wisdom teeth? As mentioned above, one of the most noticeable effects of wisdom teeth coming into a jaw that lacks room for them is that they can cause teeth to crowd. Others issues include:
- TMJ pain
- Sinus problems
- Inflamed gums and cavities
- Cyst formation
TMJ Pain
One of the most common issues wisdom teeth create is impaction. As wisdom teeth come in, they often grow in at an angle and push up against the other teeth. Because there’s insufficient space for all of these teeth, pressure builds out in the direction of those teeth and also back in the direction of the wisdom teeth.
That accumulation of pressure creates strain on the jaw joint, or the temporomandibular joint. As you might expect, all that pressure can become pretty painful. Enough strain and patients may be diagnosed with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
Sinus Problems
When the upper wisdom teeth begin to grow in, they can cause pressure to build up and lead to congestion, sinus pain, and headaches.
Inflamed Gums and Cavities
Occasionally, when wisdom teeth come in, they create a thick flap of gum tissue next to the tooth where food particles can get stuck. Because wisdom teeth are at the far back of the mouth, and create crowding, they can be harder to clean. When teeth are harder to clean it can mean food gets stuck and left behind between teeth and in these folds. This leads to inflammation and cavities.
Cyst Formation
Wisdom teeth are also known to cause cysts, or a pocket of fluid in the gums. These cysts can cause bone degeneration and often need to be removed along with the tooth to prevent further complications.
Next Steps
For more information on TMJ disorder, jaw underdevelopment, and wisdom teeth, interested patients can schedule a consultation with Dr. Schick by calling our offices at 403-407-5730.
*all procedures performed at our practice by a general dentist
