Wisdom Tooth X-ray

This xray taken by a dentist show an unerupted upper right third molar (wisdom tooth). The dental radiograph shows this to be in a disto-angular position (the crown tilted towards the back of the mouth). The first molars erupt into the mouth around six years of age and the second molars at around twelve years of age. The third molars (wisdom teeth) erupt around the ages of eighteen to twenty-one (these are approximate ages and may vary from person to person). By this age the jaw bone has already more or less developed to its adult size and often this size is too small to accommodate the developing wisdom teeth. Consequently as has occurred in the instance depicted by this xray, the tooth remains unable to erupt fully.