Will wisdom teeth grow back after extraction?
Wisdom teeth start coming out between the age of 17 and 25. This comes after all of your permanent adult teeth have grown. Although most wisdom teeth get extracted for one reason or another, some people still wonder whether their wisdom teeth can grow back or not. The assumption here is that the same way your milk teeth fall out and permanent teeth grow back, your wisdom teeth will grow back after they are extracted because they were not part of the milk teeth that already fell out. If you have these questions in mind, this article delves into whether wisdom teeth grow back in after removal or not.
Do wisdom teeth grow back after extraction?
Although wisdom teeth erupt for the first time in your late teens or early twenties, they are classified as permanent teeth, and the possibility of them growing back is very minimal. Unlike with milk teeth, once permanent teeth are extracted, no tooth bud remains on the tooth bed for teeth to grow back. However, some people can have an extra set of third molars or what is often referred to as supernumerary teeth which usually appear on either jaws or both jaws. So instead of the normal 16 teeth on each jaw, one can have 18 teeth on either the upper or bottom jaw or 18 on both jaws. So why do people have the impression that wisdom teeth can grow back?
What happens is that supernumerary teeth may start growing after your wisdom teeth and may not be visible during the extraction of wisdom teeth. However, an x-ray scan may or may not show that they are developing underneath your gums. At this point, they are still underdeveloped and cannot erupt through your gums as they are blocked by wisdom teeth. If your dentist detects them at this stage, he may recommend an appointment after a certain duration to get them extracted. Once your wisdom teeth are extracted, and enough space has been created, then the supernumerary erupts through the gum. This is what some people may see as wisdom teeth ‘growing back’. Essentially, it is just another set of vestigial teeth showing up.
What to do if you have an extra set of third molars?
Usually, regular visits to the dentist can reveal earlier if you may have supernumerary teeth. However, if they were not detected when your wisdom teeth were extracted, and you realize that another set of wisdom teeth are ‘growing back,’ you need to visit the dentist to get them extracted. The only viable option is extraction because they are essentially a replacement of wisdom teeth. These vestigial teeth may not appear immediately after extraction of wisdom teeth and could appear at a much later stage. When this happens, consult a dentist as soon as possible to avoid any further complications that may arise as a result of your supernumerary teeth. Our dentists in Melbourne perform professional wisdom teeth extraction and have state of the art technology for early detection or possibility of supernumerary teeth. Pay them a visit for professional dental consultations and diagnosis.