Understanding Wisdom Teeth and Oral Health

Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars located at the very back of the mouth, typically emerging in the late teens or early twenties. Frequently, these teeth become impacted because there is insufficient room in the jaw or they enter at an improper angle. The most common issue is a "mesial" impaction, where the tooth angles forward toward the rest of your teeth.

When wisdom teeth are impacted, they often cause gum tenderness, swelling, and severe pain. Even those that partially erupt are difficult to clean, making them highly susceptible to decay, recurring infections, and gum disease.

We generally recommend removing wisdom teeth in the late teens or early twenties. At this stage, the roots are not yet fully formed and the surrounding bone is less dense, which makes the extraction easier and the recovery process much faster. To determine if removal is necessary, your dentist will take a panoramic X-ray to evaluate your unique situation. If extraction is recommended, it is best to address it early to prevent future complications.

To perform the extraction, we first numb the area with a local anesthetic. For patients feeling anxious, we also provide safe sedation options to ensure a comfortable experience. Because an impacted tooth may be embedded in the jawbone, the dentist may need to remove a small portion of the bone covering it. To minimize this, we often "section" the tooth, removing it in smaller pieces through a minimal opening.

Once the teeth are removed, the healing process begins. While recovery time varies based on the complexity of the extraction, our office will provide specific instructions to ensure your healing is as comfortable and efficient as possible.