Missing Wisdom Teeth May be Due to Childhood Dental Anesthesia

Researchers from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine have found that children who received dental anesthesia in their gums between the ages of two and six were more likely not to develop wisdom teeth as they grow up.

The investigators analyzed the dental records of 220 patients who had received dental anesthesia between the ages of two and six and found that kids who had received anesthesia were 4.3 times more likely to have no wisdom tooth development compared to those who did not have the injection.

The X-rays of nearly 8% of the children who had received anesthesia revealed lack of wisdom tooth buds.

Wisdom tooth buds, which are very small with nearly same diameter as that of the injection needle, develop around four years of age. Dental anesthesia is generally given close to the wisdom tooth. Authors opine that the trauma caused by the needle while giving anesthesia could possible destroy the wisdom tooth buds, preventing further development.

The study is however limited by the small data. Researchers indicate the need to large scale study to confirm the link.

Source: Medindia