Wisdom tooth appearing in my 40s? Anyone with dentistry knowledge?

[ThaliaLuxurySpa]

Am mid 40s.

None of my wisdom teeth ever came through (probably explains a lot!).
Not unduly concerned, as I know they don't for many people.

However, after a minor bit of throbbing (but no pain) yesterday, I can now feel the hard edge of what I assume to be a 3rd molar (upper left side; no sign of other 3).

Is it safe to just watch and wait? Am v hard up and want to avoid unnecessary dentist visit unless vital. Next check-up not due until December.

All four of mine have come through. I am very wise! Three have been removed due to them being impacted. The last one started coming through when I was late 30's and is fine. Good position, enough space to floss between my last molar and it.

I'd say unless you get a funny smell or taste if you chew anything over that area or get a fair amount of pain ( you will get some due to the teething process and it can bloody hurt!) or it feels swollen or hot or you feel ill, like its maybe infected, then you'll be fine leaving it till December. Ask the dentist, (though they will probably offer) to take an X-ray and they'll be able to tell if it's going to cause a problem and whether you can wait and see or go straight for extraction.

Thanks, oh wise one!

Excuse my ignorance, but does "impacted" mean when it's growing horizontally/ at a funny angle or direction/ there's not enough available space for it to fit easily?

And thus if any of the above, it automatically has to be removed?

Maybe it'll be one that only partially appears and stays as it is: I've heard that's quite common too.
God, what a palaver! I really thought I'd escaped any wisdom-related worry/ pain.

I'd go and get it checked by a dentist.

I had three wisdom teeth out as a teenager, but the fourth was still so deep that they left it. At some stage, probably in my late 30s/40s, it did come through, and started pressing against the molar next to it, which is now in a very bad state - it would have been much better if the wisdom tooth had come out earlier.

Do you think I need to be checked out sooner than mid-Dec, then?

Damn. Was hoping that, unless pain or infection, I could eke things out until my appt.

My one and only wisdom tooth appeared in my forties, ten years later it is still not fully erupted. It seems to grow a little periodically. My Dentist said as long as its not hurting or showing sign of infection we just watch and wait. It seems to be pretty much straight, not putting any pressure on the tooth in front, so am very happy to watch and wait. In your position, if it does not seem to be causing any issues I would keep it clean and see my Dentist in December as planned.

Thanks for the info, never.

How odd that yours is not oddly angled, or damaging the next tooth along, yet still only coming through incrementally a decade later!