Wisdom teeth

3D CT scan image, of a wisdom tooth that has been impacted

Wisdom teeth are a set of four teeth, farthest back in a person's mouth. Most people get them late in their teenage years or in their early twenties. Many people have to have surgery to get rid of them because they often grow in a crooked way, or because there is no room for them.

Wisdom Teeth Media

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  Inflamed excess gum flap (inflamed operculum marked by green arrow) over wisdom tooth

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  Some problems which may or may not occur with third molars: A Mesio-impacted, partially erupted mandibular third molar, B Dental caries and periodontal defects associated with both the third and second molars, caused by food packing and poor access to oral hygiene methods, C Inflamed operculum covering partially erupted lower third molar, with accumulation of food debris and bacteria underneath, D The upper third molar has over-erupted due to lack of opposing tooth contact, and may start to traumatically occlude into the operculum over the lower third molar. Unopposed teeth are usually sharp because they have not been blunted by another tooth.

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  Dental x-ray of impacted lower left wisdom tooth with a horizontal orientation

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  The upper left (picture right) and upper right (picture left) wisdom teeth are distoangularly impacted. The lower left wisdom tooth is horizontally impacted. The lower right wisdom tooth is vertically impacted (unidentifiable in orthopantomogram).