{"id":927,"date":"2024-02-27T15:57:57","date_gmt":"2024-02-27T15:57:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devotedfamilydental.com\/blog\/?p=927"},"modified":"2024-03-05T20:21:50","modified_gmt":"2024-03-05T20:21:50","slug":"why-do-wisdom-teeth-become-impacted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devotedfamilydental.com\/blog\/2024\/02\/27\/why-do-wisdom-teeth-become-impacted\/","title":{"rendered":"The Mystery of Impaction: Why Do Wisdom Teeth Grow Sideways?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Wisdom teeth get their name because they typically grow in between the ages of 16 and 25, during the transition into adulthood. However, these third molars aren\u2019t always cut and dry situations. In fact, the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons estimates that around 90% of people have at least one wisdom tooth that\u2019s impacted. Read on to learn what causes these molars to grow in sideways and why removing impacted wisdom teeth<\/a> is often necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Does Impaction Mean?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you think of the word \u201cimpaction,\u201d are you envisioning something stuck between or underneath an object? That\u2019s basically what having an impacted wisdom tooth means as well. Third molars can be impacted either horizontally or vertically. If they are horizontally impacted, it means that they will eventually shift the surrounding teeth by growing into them. If they are vertically impacted, it means that they are stuck below the gumline. They can also be both<\/em>!  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the most common signs that wisdom teeth are impacted include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n