If you’re raising older teens, you know what the most dreaded dental experience is for them. More than cavities or crowns, the oral surgery for wisdom teeth is probably the most notorious dental operation for teenagers. The upper and lower third molars located at the back of the mouth, known as wisdom teeth, often fail to emerge properly from the gums as children age. If your child has been experiencing symptoms from one or more of their third molars, you’ll want our help. You can find answers about for this condition and treatment in our basic guide to wisdom teeth:
Development
Wisdom teeth form beneath the gum line and erupt long after other adult teeth. The term “wisdom teeth” refers to the time when they emerge. Third molars typically appear sometime between a person’s 15th and 25th birthdays. Traditionally, people thought of these molars as a sign of a child’s successful growth into a mature, wise adult. Although older teens and college-aged students commonly experience wisdom teeth problems, younger teens and older adults outside of the standard age range sometimes face this challenge as well.
Complications
As long as wisdom teeth erupt straight, emerge completely through the gums, and have enough space, they should be fine. Children typically only experience pain and inflammation during the eruption and while the affected areas heal. That said, many people don’t have much luck with third molars. The teeth often fail to push through gums or erupt incompletely or at bad angles. The jaw size and lack of space behind the second molars usually cause these complications.
According to Nevada Oral and Facial Surgery, “When wisdom teeth grow in, they can often cause overcrowding, tooth impactions, and other discomfort in our mouths. If not extracted, wisdom teeth can increase bacteria while making it more difficult to adequately clean teeth. Over time, this can cause infection, bone loss, or even gum disease.”
Teens especially have problems coping with this condition since certain symptoms like facial swelling and voice slurring can result in mocking from bullies. They also rely on fully functioning mouths for successful interactions with peers and others at school, extracurricular activities and social events.
Removal
Often, wisdom teeth need to be removed. Experts agree that the best time to remove third molars is before a person turns 25 years old. Treatment at a later age can cause additional complications, including a far more negative impact on quality of life during recovery downtime and a higher chance of infections and healing problems. Most dentists monitor the teeth for several years before their expected eruption.
Once a dentist discovers impacted third molars, they refer the patient and parents to an oral surgeon who specializes in wisdom teeth extraction. The procedure is an outpatient surgery that involves either numbing of a child’s or young adult’s mouth or patient sedation. Initial recovery typically takes one to two weeks and involves specific diet guidelines and physical limitations. Infections, oral damage or a dry root socket can extend the recovery period.
Final Thoughts
The best way to explain wisdom teeth and related oral surgery to your child, no matter their age, is with visual aids. Show them an image of the mouth with the wisdom teeth in perfect position and then images that depict complications. Additionally, ask their dentist to help you with the explanation. Your teenage or adult child might handle this news better when it comes from both you and a professional they know and trust.
