How long does it hurt when wisdom teeth grow?

Wisdom teeth, scientifically known as the third molar, commonly known as wisdom teeth, are the teeth closest to the throat in the mouth. If all grow out, there are 4 teeth in total, two in the upper and lower jaws. They usually grow out at the age of 16 or later. Compared with the deciduous teeth that grow out in infancy and the permanent teeth that are replaced in childhood, wisdom teeth usually grow when the human mind has matured, hence the name. There are great individual differences in the growth of wisdom teeth. Some people have them before the age of 20, some at the age of 40 or 50, and some never grow them in their entire lives. This is all normal. Moreover, not all four wisdom teeth will necessarily grow fully. Some people may only grow 1 to 2 wisdom teeth, and some wisdom teeth may even stop growing halfway. This situation is called impacted wisdom teeth. Starting from the gap between the front teeth, count the number of teeth from the front teeth on one side. If there is an eighth tooth, it is the wisdom tooth.

Wisdom teeth and evolution There may be two reasons for the degeneration of wisdom teeth: first, the volume of the lower jaw became smaller during the evolution of humans from apes, and there was no jaw space left for wisdom teeth; second, it may be related to oral hygiene. It was very common for young people in ancient times to lose several or most of their teeth. At this time, the wisdom teeth that have just grown out will come into play. In modern times, oral medicine is well developed and everyone has the habit of brushing their teeth. Unless an accident happens, young people's teeth generally remain intact, and wisdom teeth become redundant. Since there is no space for growth, wisdom teeth often cause pain when growing, and their position and direction may be abnormal after eruption. Most people's wisdom teeth have no chewing function and no opposing teeth. That is, wisdom teeth are generally superfluous and are considered a vestigial organ.

Diseases caused by wisdom teeth Due to the special position of wisdom teeth, their cleaning and treatment bring many problems. Common diseases caused include caries, periodontitis, and pulpitis. Since wisdom teeth are at the innermost part, they are not easy to clean with daily brushing and are prone to tooth decay. Wisdom teeth often cause swelling and pain due to insufficient space for eruption, and they may also invade adjacent teeth and cause toothache. In addition, due to the lack of opposing teeth, wisdom teeth sometimes over-erupt, thus affecting the bite; sometimes they do not erupt enough and become impacted teeth, causing malocclusion, pericoronal infection, and difficulty opening the mouth. Wisdom teeth are the third largest molars and have an important impact on the adjacent second molars. Since most wisdom teeth are impacted and tilted forward, they press on the second molar at an angle of about 45 degrees, forming a crown angle that makes it easy for food to get stuck. Over time, this can lead to caries of the second molar or even pulpitis. Even if it is not that serious, it can affect the lifespan of the second molar.

Removal of wisdom teeth Due to the above-mentioned diseases that may be caused by wisdom teeth, most professionals recommend removing wisdom teeth to avoid future troubles. There are also some people whose wisdom teeth do not cause any trouble. This is determined by the individual's physiological structure, and there is no need to remove wisdom teeth for these people. Because wisdom teeth grow on a branch of the trigeminal nerve, if not handled properly, it may affect the sensation and even vision in the mouth. The mandible and wisdom tooth roots of adults have already been formed, so wisdom tooth extraction surgery involves certain risks. For patients with diabetes, heart disease, etc., it is easy to cause complications during the extraction, so wisdom tooth extraction surgery for these people should be performed with caution. Since wisdom teeth have 3 to 4 roots and their growth position is not conducive to operation, the method of removing wisdom teeth is generally to break the crown and split it. Although there will be no pain during the operation due to the use of anesthesia, people need to adapt to the process psychologically. Some people refuse to cooperate with the treatment due to fear. For some wisdom teeth with less exposed crowns, the gums may need to be cut open during extraction, and the healing of the wound will cause some pain.