Development
The third molars (wisdom teeth) develop very late, between the ages of 18 and 25, and for this reason are called wisdom teeth. In some adolescents, the first mineralization is not visible in the X-ray image until the age of 14. In others, the wisdom teeth never break through.
Form
The wisdom teeth belong to the cheek teeth, but they do not follow certain rules in their structure. So there are wisdom teeth with only three cusps, but also with five cusps. Also the number of roots is very different and some of them are intergrown or bent in a hook shape. This can make the removal of the tooth roots much more difficult. In very rare cases, further molars may grow behind the wisdom teeth, which are then called “nines” or distomolars.
Clinic
Due to these considerable differences and the irregularity of their appearance in one jaw, wisdom teeth can cause considerable problems. The upper wisdom teeth are usually less problematic than the lower ones. A common problem is the limited space.
Since the wisdom teeth are the last cheek teeth to break through the back of the jaw, there is often not enough space, so that they cannot break through at all or only partially. If the teeth do not break through at all (complete retention), there are usually no symptoms. Partially erupted teeth (partial retention) can lead to inflammation and abscesses.
These are very painful and can lead to general symptoms with fever and fatigue. If the wisdom teeth grow only in the upper or lower jaw, they are missing when the opponents grow, so that they grow beyond the chewing plane. In addition, this often results in a displacement of the teeth, which can lead to tooth damage, nocturnal teeth grinding and jaw joint problems. If complaints of this kind occur, the wisdom teeth must be surgically removed (extraction). If the tooth germs are removed before they have broken through, this is called a germectomy.
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