Wisdom teeth grow sideways because there is often not enough room in the jaw, so they are blocked and come in at an angle.
Why
There often isn’t enough room in the jaw. The wisdom tooth gets blocked by the second molar and grows at an angle (impaction).
Evolution
Human jaws became smaller as diets softened.
Types
Mesial (toward the front), vertical, horizontal and distal.
Problems
Pain, infection, damage to nearby teeth and cysts.
Treatment
Removal, usually with X-ray guidance.
Age
Wisdom teeth appear at ages 17 to 25.
Why third molars tilt
Wisdom teeth erupt last, usually between 17 and 25 years, when the jaw may have no room left. Modern jaws are often smaller than those of earlier humans, who ate tougher food that stimulated jaw growth, according to anthropologists. Teeth then angle against the second molar or bone.
- Impaction types include mesioangular (tilted forward, the most common), vertical, horizontal and distoangular.
- About 24 percent of people have at least one impacted wisdom tooth in some studies, and others report higher rates in young adults.
- Some people never develop wisdom teeth, as agenesis occurs in roughly 20 to 25 percent.
Problems and treatment
Impacted teeth can cause pericoronitis, cavities in neighboring teeth, cysts, gum disease and crowding. Dentists use panoramic X-rays to evaluate. Extraction is recommended for symptoms or disease, and it’s usually done in the late teens or early twenties when roots are not fully formed. Recovery takes about a week. Asymptomatic impacted teeth can sometimes be monitored.
Why third molars tilt
Wisdom teeth emerge last, between ages 17 and 25, often without enough room in the jaw. They may tilt sideways (horizontal impaction) against the second molar. Studies show that about 70 to 80 percent of people have at least one impacted wisdom tooth.
Problems and treatment
Impacted teeth can cause pain, infection, decay in the neighboring tooth and cysts. Dentists use X rays and often recommend extraction, usually done under local or general anesthesia.
Development of third molars
Wisdom teeth start forming at about age 9 and complete roots by the early 20s. Jaw size has shrunk through evolution, leaving less room. Impaction types are mesioangular (tilted forward, 43 percent), vertical, horizontal and distoangular. A panoramic X ray shows position and nerve proximity.
Risks and removal
Impacted teeth may decay, damage the second molar, form cysts and cause gum infection. Surgery involves removing the tooth in sections, with recovery of 3 to 7 days. Rare complications include dry socket (2 to 5 percent), infection and temporary nerve numbness (1 to 5 percent). Costs range from 200 to 600 USD per tooth for simple, and up to 800 to 1,200 for impacted ones.
Based on data from the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
