Wisdom teeth are the third molars and usually the last teeth to erupt. Most patients get their wisdom teeth in their late teens or early twenties and more often than not, they are misaligned, causing pain and and require removal.
Wisdom teeth also can be impacted, meaning that they are enclosed within the gum and/or the jawbone. Sometimes they only partially erupt, “break through” the gum creating an opening for bacteria to enter around the tooth and cause an infection.
A six monthly check up gives your dentist the opportunity to check all areas of your mouth and taking a full mouth OPG X-ray can evaluate any wisdom teeth that have not erupted yet.