Tooth 17: Exploring Mandibular Third Molar “Anatomy and Dental Considerations”
Tooth 17 is a third molar and a wisdom tooth, and in the permanent dentition, tooth 17 is the very last tooth to erupt. This tooth erupts approximately between the ages of 17 and 25. This is the reason that tooth number 17 is known as a wisdom tooth.
One distinctive fact related to the introduction of tooth 17 is that, in many cases, this tooth is found to be impacted. This means that tooth number 17 does not erupt in an appropriate manner. Tooth number 17 is often found stuck in the jawbone. Due to this, people face many problems, like pain and infections. If the patients want to remove such impacted wisdom teeth, they should visit oral surgeons and dentists.
Another interesting fact about teeth 17 is that it is not consistently necessary for chewing. The presence of other teeth in the human mouth is enough for chewing food. So it is clear that wisdom teeth, including the 17th Tooth, are not mandatory for chewing. Yet, in some rare cases, tooth 17 will help grind the food. Anyhow, the removal of tooth number 17 varies in every case.
If teeth 17 or any other wisdom tooth is causing infections, then their removal is compulsory, but if not, they should be left in their place. Tooth number 17 is the largest tooth in the human mouth. Tooth 17 and 32 are molars and wisdom teeth, respectively. The common difference between both teeth is that tooth 17 is the lower left wisdom tooth and tooth 32 is the lower right wisdom tooth.
Where is Tooth Number 17 Located?
Tooth 17 location is in the lower left quadrant. It is a wisdom tooth that is present at the back of the mouth. According to the Universal Tooth Numbering System, the human mouth contains tooth numbers from 1 to 32. This tooth numbering starts from the upper right third molar and rotates clockwise. Though tooth number 17 is the lower left third molar.
Tooth number 17 starts from the back of the lower left quadrant and moves towards the lower front incisors. And from the lower front incisors, it then moves to the lower right quadrant’s back. In UNS, the upper teeth are numbered from 1 to 16, and the lower teeth are numbered from 17 to 32. So it is obvious that tooth number 17 is located in the lower quadrant of the human mouth.
Tooth Number 17: Maxillary or Mandibular?
The 17th tooth is the mandibular third molar, which is located at the back of the mouth. Mandibular teeth are basically the teeth that are present in the lower quadrants of the mouth. Tooth 17 is the most posterior and largest tooth in the human mouth. Teeth 17 contain only one root and a wide, big, and demolished crown. Being a mandibular third molar, the primary function of tooth 17 is to grind food.
Teeth 17 is not considered mandatory because of their delay in eruption. The 17th tooth is that molar tooth that does not contain any counterpart in the opposite direction of the jaw. There are a great number of people who do not have tooth number 17 in their mouth. This tooth is commonly found in impacted form and leads to severe infections if not removed or treated on time.
Tooth Number 17 Extraction (Depending on the Condition of Tooth)
We know that tooth number 17 is a wisdom tooth, so being a wisdom tooth, the 17th tooth is difficult to extract. The reasons behind this difficulty are the size, position, surrounding tissue, shape, and anesthesia. The factors that cause complications in the extraction process are sinus proximity, impacted teeth, and tooth damage. If dentists and oral surgeons find complexity in the extraction of tooth number 17, they will have to cut into the jawbone and gums in order to remove the tooth.
The extraction process for 17th Tooth requires local anesthesia. This local anesthesia can be used to numb the surrounding area of the tooth. During the extraction of a tooth, some patients become anxious, so they are provided with local anesthesia in order to remove their anxiety. As the process of extraction is completed, the dentists will use a gauze pad to stop bleeding at the extraction site. Patients are advised to take certain medications and antibiotics to avoid infections.
The time duration for recovery from the extraction process is different for every person. Sometimes the pain and swelling heal in a few days, and sometimes they last for months. People often ask how they can get relief from the pain. A simple and easy way to get relief from the extraction pain is to use an ice pack. The ice also has the effect and ability of numbing the gums. This will be really helpful to the patients in getting comfort. But patients should not apply the ice to their skin without deviation. If they do so, they will face cold-related injuries. A lengthy period of time on the ice should also be avoided.
A Look into the Antomy of Tooth Number 17
According to the Universal Tooth Numbering System, tooth number 17 is a wisdom tooth. Tooth is often the very last tooth to erupt, and due to a lack of space, it does not erupt properly. If we discuss the anatomy of tooth number 17, it is similar to other molars. The anatomy is comprised of a crown, a root, and a neck. The part of the tooth that is present on the gumline and easily visible is known as the crown. The hardest substance in the body, enamel, covers the crown. The part of the tooth that is anchored in the jawbone is known as the root.
And the neck is the area between the crown and dentin. The area of the neck is very narrow, thin, and slender. The 17th tooth is difficult to clean, and it leads to an increase in the risk of cavities and gum diseases. The 17th tooth is more wide and less tall. Tooth 17 is usually curved in shape. Tooth 17 may have one or two roots. The 17th tooth contains a narrow tooth canal and a small pulp chamber.
Tooth 17 With All it’s Roots
Tooth number 17 is a molar tooth, which means that this tooth will have multiple roots. In each molar tooth, the number of roots varies. If we specify the number of roots in tooth 17, there are three in total.
The names of the roots in tooth 17 are:
- Mesiobuccal root
- Distobuccal root
- Palatal root
The largest root inside the human mouth is the mesiobuccal root. This root is present on the cheek side of the human mouth. The other root is the distobuccal root, which is present on the opposite side of the mesiobuccal root. Distouccal root is smaller in size as compared to mesiobuccal root. The third root is the palatal root, which is located in the direction of the roof of the human mouth.
These roots are significant because they are used for anchoring teeth in the exact same place. The palatal root is the smallest as compared to the previous two roots. There will be chances to lose teeth 17 if two or more roots of the tooth are damaged.
How do Tooth Number 17 Numbered in Australia?
In Australia, the Universal Tooth Numbering System is used for the identification of teeth. According to this system, tooth number 17 is known as ‘17’. There is another tooth numbering system: the FDI World Dental Federation. According to FDI, tooth number 17 is nominated as ‘38’. According to deep research, wisdom teeth are not consistently present in every human mouth. People without wisdom teeth in their mouths make up about 20% of the population.
In Australia, a specific tooth numbering system is being used that assigns a specific two-digit number to each tooth. The first digit of the number refers to the location of the tooth in the quadrant. Where the second digit of the number refers to the type of tooth. The FDI Dental Notation refers to this two-digit numbering system. Professional dentists in several different nations use this to quickly identify the tooth.
Is Tooth 17 Anterior or Posterior?
If we discuss the anterior teeth, they contain all the incisors and canines. So the tooth numbers from 6–11 are the incisors and canines on the upper quadrant, and the tooth numbers from 22–27 are the incisors and canines on the lower quadrant. These are all the anterior teeth. Whereas all remaining teeth, such as molars, premolars, and wisdom teeth, are posterior.
It is clear from the above discussion that tooth number 17 is a posterior tooth. It is a posterior as well as a wisdom tooth, so it is located at the back of the mouth. There are some diseases that can affect the posterior teeth badly. problems like tooth decay, fractures, gum diseases, and malocclusion. A condition where the enamel of the tooth breaks is known as tooth decay. Tooth decay can cause severe cavities or holes in the teeth.
Any kind of infection or harm to the gums is known as gum disease. Severe gum diseases can cause tooth loss in humans. Sometimes it happens that gum disease and tooth decay damage and weaken the posterior teeth. Due to which the posterior teeth can fracture. In cases of misalignment in the teeth, people find difficulty chewing food; this term is known as malocclusion. Due to malocclusion, people also find it difficult to speak.