Wisdom Teeth Removal

Your wisdom teeth are the third set of molars and have the potential to cause significant problems to your long-term oral health. We know them as wisdom teeth because they erupt during late teens or early adulthood, which was typically referred to as the age of wisdom. Many teens and adults are unaware that they may have additional teeth growing under the surface of their gums. These additional molars may be undetectable without regular dental examinations and are often unapparent until they become a problem. Many times, patients must rely on an X-ray to determine if wisdom teeth are present underneath the gums. Other times, the wisdom teeth partially emerge from the gums but do not completely grow in.

Unfortunately, wisdom teeth commonly do not grow into the mouth in a manner that allows patients to experience their benefit. Most people do not have enough room within their jaw bone for these teeth to grow in properly, which can cause problems for the rest of the teeth.

 

Why should I get my wisdom teeth removed?

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Wisdom teeth make patients more susceptible to a host of problems inside the mouth, including

• Swelling, stiffness, tenderness, pain, and even bad breath in the mouth caused by periodontal disease

• Misalignment of healthy teeth as the wisdom teeth may pull or push the second molars forward and cause dental crowding and shifting throughout the mouth

• Bacterial growth leading to periodontal (gum) disease, bone loss, and tooth decay

• Increased risk of cyst development which can, in turn, injure adjacent teeth, cause bone loss, and may affect nerves in the vicinity.

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We recommend the wisdom teeth be removed early. The removal usually occurs during the mid to late teens, even if they haven’t begun to emerge from the gums yet. The extraction and recovery process is much more rapid if wisdom teeth are removed early because the roots of the teeth are not fully established within the bone, and younger patients are more likely to have a quicker recovery. Early treatment reduces the risks associated with wisdom tooth removal.