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  • SERVICES
    • Teeth Replacement & Cosmetic Dentistry
      • Dental Implants
      • Trefoil™ Dental Implants
      • All-on-4 Dental Implants
      • Dental Crowns
      • Dental Bridges
      • Dentures
      • Cosmetic Dentistry
      • Veneers
      • Teeth Whitening
    • Gum Treatment
      • Gum Treatment
      • Gum Grafting
      • Gummy Smile Treatment
    • Oral Surgery & Reconstructive Dentistry
      • Wisdom Tooth Surgery
      • Jaw Surgery
      • Oral Biopsy & Cyst Removal
      • Bone Grafting
      • Sinus Lift
      • Tongue Tie Surgery
      • Reduction of Square Jaw
    • Teeth & Bite Alignment
      • Braces Treatment
      • Invisalign
    • Root Canal Treatment
      • Root Canal Treatment
    • Children’s Dentistry
      • Children’s Dentistry
    • Other Services
      • TMJ (Jaw Joint) Treatment
      • Dental Check-up
      • Dental Emergencies
      • Scaling & Polishing (Teeth Cleaning)
      • Composite Bonding
      • Pre-Surgery Assessment
      • Sleep Apnea
      • Geriatric Care
      • Xerostomia
  • PATIENT INFORMATION
    • We’ve Got You Covered
      • CPF Medisave Claims
      • CHAS | Pioneer Generation Package
      • Financial Arrangement
      • Personal Data Protection Act
    • Pre-Visit Information
      • Pre-registration Form
      • International Patients
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • We answer some of the most common questions on dental treatment and more.
  • MULTISPECIALTY DENTAL TEAM
    • Prosthodontics
      • Dr Steven Soo
      • Dr Tan Kian Meng
      • Dr Edwin Tan
      • Dr Neo Tee Khin
      • Dr Ansgar C. Cheng
    • Orthodontics
      • Dr Soh Shean Han
      • Dr May Ling Eide
    • Periodontics Treatment in Singapore
      • Dr Helena Lee
      • Dr Daylene Leong
      • Dr Ben Wang
    • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
      • Dr Ho Kok Sen
    • Endodontics
      • Dr Irene Sim
    • Paedodontics
      • Dr Tabitha Chng
    • Dental Staff
  • About
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      • Join Us
  • BLOG
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    • Our Locations
  • SERVICES
        • Teeth Replacement & Cosmetic Dentistry
          • Dental Implants
          • Trefoil™ Dental Implants
          • All-on-4 Dental Implants
          • Dental Crowns
          • Dental Bridges
          • Dentures
          • Cosmetic Dentistry
          • Veneers
          • Teeth Whitening
        • Gum Treatment
          • Gum Treatment
          • Gummy Smile Treatment
          • Gum Grafting
        • Oral Surgery & Reconstructive Dentistry
          • Wisdom Tooth Surgery
          • Jaw Surgery
          • Oral Biopsy & Cyst Removal
          • Bone Grafting
          • Sinus Lift
          • Tongue Tie Surgery
          • Reduction of Square Jaw
        • Teeth & Bite Alignment
          • Braces Treatment
          • Invisalign
        • Root Canal Treatment
          • Root Canal Treatment
        • Children’s Dentistry
          • Children’s Dentistry
        • Other Services
          • TMJ (Jaw Joint) Treatment
          • Dental Check-up
          • Dental Emergencies
          • Scaling & Polishing (Teeth Cleaning)
          • Composite Bonding
          • Pre-Surgery Assessment
          • Sleep Apnea
          • Geriatric Care
          • Xerostomia
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          • Financial Arrangement
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        • Pre-Visit Information
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          • International Patients
        • Frequently Asked Questions
          • We answer some of the most common questions on dental treatment and more.
  • MULTISPECIALTY DENTAL TEAM
        • Prosthodontics
          • Dr Steven Soo
          • Dr Tan Kian Meng
          • Dr Edwin Tan
          • Dr Neo Tee Khin
          • Dr Ansgar C. Cheng
        • Periodontics Treatment in Singapore
          • Dr Helena Lee
          • Dr Daylene Leong
          • Dr Ben Wang
        • Endodontics
          • Dr Irene Sim
        • Orthodontics
          • Dr Soh Shean Han
          • Dr May Ling Eide
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Be Wise about Wisdom Teeth!

21045455_sWhat Are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth, also known as the third molars, are usually the last set of permanent teeth to develop. Most people would have four wisdom teeth, two on the upper jaw and two on the lower jaw. These teeth usually develop between the ages of 16-21, although they may erupt later for some people.

Fun Trivia

1) No one knows why DNA creates wisdom teeth.

Why do wisdom teeth grow when they seem to be obsolete and should be taken out eventually? There is no known scientific knowledge on why our DNA creates wisdom teeth after birth and its function. For wisdom teeth to form, the tissue that starts the process of tooth building has to migrate back in the mouth to interact with the back jaw tissue. If this migration doesn’t happen, then no tooth will grow there.

2) People in East Asia have fewer wisdom teeth.

Eskimo women have larger jawbones because of the need to chew on leather to soften it. People of a culture have reached the point where they don’t use a trait, they may lose it. [1] People in East Asia have fewer wisdom teeth, but whether it is due to evolution or culture, is still debatable.

There is no known great evolution advantage that comes with the lack of wisdom teeth, but we will never know where evolution may bring us!

3) Wisdom teeth do not necessarily always grow in fours.

It is normal to have one or more missing wisdom teeth for some people. Wisdom teeth may cause trouble for some and may grow out peacefully for others.

Lose the Wisdom Teeth

Often, we think that if our wisdom teeth are not causing pain, we should leave them alone. After all, why fix something that is not broken.

Here is why it is time to get wise about wisdom teeth.

Every person is unique, but generally, we will advise the removal of wisdom teeth when there are changes in the mouth, such as pain, infection, tooth decay, or gum disease.

The condition of our mouth constantly changes, so wisdom teeth that are not removed may pose a potential problem later on. Impacted wisdom teeth, specifically, are frequently food traps and breeding grounds for bacteria. Thus, maintaining their cleanliness is difficult and infection is very common.

The younger one is, the easier the removal of the wisdom teeth (and the faster the recovery time), as the bone is more elastic and the roots are shorter. With proper management, the procedure is smooth and seldom causes any significant swelling or discomfort afterwards.

Regular dental visits are important so your dentist can evaluate not just your wisdom teeth, but also your overall oral health to help you prevent and manage dental disease and achieve optimal oral health.


[1] http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/evolution/no-wisdom-teeth2.htm

Dr Ho Kok Sen Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon Tips for good dental health Wisdom Teeth

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+65 6734 9393
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+65 6471 5150

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Dental Emergency

Please contact us directly at the emergency contact number on your dentist’s card, or the Mount Elizabeth A&E department at +65 6731 2218, or Gleneagles A&E department at +65 6470 5700.

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Services

  • Trefoil™ Dental Implants
  • All-on-4 Dental Implants
  • Braces Treatment in Singapore
  • Composite Bonding
  • Cosmetic Dentistry
  • Dental Crowns
  • Gum Treatment
  • Gummy Smile Treatment
  • Invisalign
  • Reduction of Square Jaw
  • Teeth Whitening
  • Veneers
  • Bone Grafting
  • Natural Dental Tooth Bridge
  • Children’s Dentistry
  • Dental Check-up
  • Dental Emergencies
  • Dental Fillings
  • Dental Implants in Singapore
  • Gum Grafting
  • Geriatric Care
  • Jaw Surgery
  • Missing Teeth
  • Oral Biopsy & Cyst Removal
  • Pre-Surgery Assessment
  • Reduction of Square Jaw
  • Root Canal Treatment
  • Scaling & Polishing (Teeth Cleaning)
  • Sinus Lift
  • Sleep Apnea
  • Teeth Whitening
  • TMJ (Jaw Joint) Treatment
  • Trefoil™ Dental Implants
  • Tongue Tie Surgery
  • Wisdom Tooth Surgery in Singapore
  • Xerostomia

Patient Information

  • CPF Medisave Claims
  • CHAS | Pioneer Generation Package
  • Financial Arrangement
  • Personal Data Protection Act
  • Pre-registration Form
  • International Patients
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Multispecialty Team

  • Prosthodontics
    • Dr Steven Soo
    • Dr Tan Kian Meng
    • Dr Edwin Tan
    • Dr Neo Tee Khin
    • Dr Ansgar C. Cheng
  • Orthodontics
    • Dr Soh Shean Han
    • Dr May Ling Eide
  • Periodontics Treatment in Singapore
    • Dr Helena Lee
    • Dr Daylene Leong
    • Dr Ben Wang
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
    • Dr Ho Kok Sen
  • Endodontics
    • Dr Irene Sim
  • Paedodontics
    • Dr Tabitha Chng
  • Dental Staff

About

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