As you grow through adolescence and into adulthood, one last set of molars develops in the back of your jaw. These teeth are evolutionary holdovers from a time when human mouths were much larger and stronger. Since we did not cook our meat at the time, early man needed more chewing power than we do now. Currently, wisdom teeth often pose problems to orthodontics and even into general dentistry.
This means that during your teens and early adult years, scheduling consistent visits for imagery is highly important. Radiography like x-rays can give you and your trained dental health professional the proper information before these molars can cause lasting damage. Wisdom teeth can push the existing structures forward and cause crowding and areas where they overlap. Stick to a regimen of visits every six months to determine if an extraction is necessary. At Elm Creek Dental in Maple Grove, MN, we know that preventive care can save time and effort in the long run. Track the growth of your last set of molars and give yourself more flexibility and freedom! (more…)