Wisdom teeth are vestigial third molars that are not necessary. Your child likely has four wisdom teeth. However, there have been rare cases when someone has had as many as six wisdom teeth while others have zero.
You should expect your child’s wisdom teeth to start erupting from their gums during their teen years. It’s not uncommon for the emerging wisdom teeth to cause crowding in the back of the mouth or even become impacted. An impacted wisdom tooth can cause pain, infection, and damage.
Early symptoms of emerging wisdom teeth often involves a deep ache in the gums or in the rear of the jaw. Even if one or more of your child’s wisdom teeth manage to emerge from the gums without complications, they will still need regular brushing and flossing. Unfortunately, wisdom teeth can be very hard to clean, making them prone to tooth decay and gum disease.
Even though it might be tempting to let the teeth stay in place, it can lead to issues later on. If you choose to not have them extracted until later in life, your child may experience a much longer recovery time.
If you are concerned about your child’s wisdom teeth in Savage, Shakopee, and Eden Prairie, Minnesota, you should call Midwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at 952-226-7940 for a consultation with Dr. Hueler, Dr. Lyu, and Dr. Voegele.