Wisdom Teeth Removal

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What are wisdom teeth?

When most people are in their late teens or early twenties, their wisdom teeth will erupt. These four teeth – two on the top and two on the bottom – are located at the very back of the mouth. Wisdom teeth are the last adult teeth to come through, and are also referred to as the “third molars” or even “18-year-old molars”.

There is a certain percentage of the population who don’t even have wisdom teeth, or not all four at least. This is perfectly normal, and not having wisdom teeth is hereditary. For a small percentage of people, their wisdom teeth erupting is uneventful and without complications. And yet for others, their wisdom teeth can become painful and infected. In those cases, wisdom tooth removal may be the best option. If you are having problems with your wisdom teeth, our dentists are here to help.

When do I need to get my wisdom teeth removed?

In teenagers and young adults, wisdom teeth can be monitored via dental x-rays before they erupt. These x-rays will show if your wisdom teeth are present below the gum line and if there is room in your mouth for them to come in. In some cases, dentists may recommend wisdom tooth removal even if you aren’t yet having discomfort or pain.

Wisdom teeth that cannot fully come in are called impacted, which means they may erupt at an angle. In these cases, wisdom teeth can cause damage to surrounding teeth and soft tissue by exerting pressure on them. Some impacted teeth only partially erupt, creating a flap of gum tissue. Food and other debris can become trapped between the tissue flap and the tooth, resulting in an infection.

Additionally, cysts can form around impacted teeth. Cysts are pockets of fluid that can damage bone, surrounding teeth, and gums. Antibiotics can treat infections, but in many instances, removing wisdom teeth is necessary to permanently treat the problem.