Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth or third molars, are the last four permanent teeth to form and move into the mouth. They usually emerge at around 16 to 18 years of age and are fully developed by the age of 22.

Advantages to Early Removal of Wisdom Teeth

Removing impacted wisdom teeth early is usually a less involved procedure than waiting until complications and pain develop. It is best to remove the teeth before the roots are fully formed. As you age, the roots will thicken and become firmly anchored to the jawbone and possibly grow into the nearby sensory nerve canal. Waiting until your wisdom teeth cause trouble can increase the risks of nerve injury and chances of complications.  Also, recovery tends to proceed more smoothly when they are removed electively.
All extractions are performed in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere under anesthesia that is appropriate for the patient. We utilize state of the art monitoring equipment and anesthesia techniques.  All patients are monitored by continuous pulse oximetry, blood pressure readings, and EKG.  Also, supplemental oxygen is given to all patients.

Problems Caused by Impacted Wisdom Teeth

If the jawbone is not long enough, the wisdom teeth will not have enough room to erupt and will become trapped inside the jawbone. In this case, the wisdom teeth have become impacted by bone.
Partially erupted teeth are considered to be impacted. Naturally occurring bacteria in the mouth can work their way down to the impacted wisdom teeth, frequently causing infection in the surrounding gums and bone. Repeated soreness around the wisdom teeth is often mistaken as an effort of the wisdom teeth to erupt. This soreness, however, could be a sign of infection. Surrounding bone, tooth roots and adjacent teeth may be harmed if left untreated.
Even if you have no symptoms now, headaches, earaches, pain in the face, neck, throat and upper and lower teeth can occur if impacted wisdom teeth are not removed. Cysts can also develop around impacted wisdom teeth. The growth follicle that surrounds the developing wisdom teeth may remain when the teeth are impacted. Some cysts can destroy the bone surrounding adjacent molars. In rare instances, if the cyst is not treated, a tumor may develop and more extensive procedures may be required for removal.