Wisdom Teeth
The wisdom teeth (your third molars) are the last teeth to come in-and the last teeth to come in and the ones least needed for good oral health. They may not erupt, or emerge from your gums, until your late teens or early twenties-if they erupt at all. Most often, they are impacted, or trapped in the jawbone and gums, usually because there's not enough room for them in your mouth.
PROBLEMS THAT MIGHT BE CAUSED BY WISDOM TEETH:
Gum Disease: When a wisdom tooth partially breaks through the gum's surface, bacteria can get under the flap, causing an infection in the gum.
Crowding: An impacted or erupting wisdom tooth can push on adjacent teeth, causing them to become crooked or even damaging them structurally.
Decay: A wisdom tooth that is hard to clean due to its position or because it is partially covered by gum tissue may collect cavity-causing bacteria. This could also lead to decay in the tooth next to it.
Poor position: A wisdom tooth that grows toward the cheek can irritate nearby tissues. If an erupted tooth is crooked, it may be hard to clean and can even make it hard to bite down.
Cysts: If the sac that holds the crown remains in the bone, it can fill with fluid, forming a cysts that can destroy surrounding bone.