Wisdom Teeth

What are wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the last set of molars to erupt through your gum tissue and sit at the very back of your mouth. Some people never develop wisdom teeth, or might only have them in their upper or lower jaw.

When present, wisdom teeth usually come in between the ages of 17-25. They’re called wisdom teeth because they arrive once you reach an age where you’ve attained a degree of wisdom.

In many cases, wisdom teeth don’t have enough room to develop normally or break through your gum tissue. These teeth are impacted, meaning they’re trapped either fully or partially beneath the gumline.

When do wisdom teeth need to be removed?

Just because your wisdom teeth are impacted does not mean they have to be removed. There are cases in which wisdom teeth remain in place and never develop dental health issues.

However, some people experience problems with impacted wisdom teeth. Some of the factors that might make removal necessary include:

• Jaw pain
• Food particles becoming trapped behind the teeth
• Damage to adjacent tooth or bone tissue
• Damage to adjacent nerves
• Cysts that develop near wisdom teeth
• Gum disease
• Teeth crowding
• Decay in a partially erupted wisdom tooth
  
  

Your NovaDental specialist keeps an eye on your wisdom teeth during your routine dental exams. If it seems that extraction is the best approach, your dentist explains what to expect and the benefits of having your wisdom teeth removed.

What happens during wisdom teeth removal?

Because impacted wisdom teeth are not easily accessible, removing them requires oral surgery. An injection of numbing medication ensures you feel no pain from start to finish. Oral sedation or other sedation dentistry options help you rest and relax during your procedure.

Your dentist begins by making an incision to gain access to the impacted wisdom tooth. If necessary, they remove any bone tissue blocking the tooth, or divide the tooth into smaller pieces to ease removal.

Once the wisdom tooth is completely removed, the next step is cleaning the site to reduce the risk of infection. Your dentist then closes the opening in your gums and places gauze over the site to protect it.

You receive full post-procedure care instructions during your visit, and adhering to those instructions is a critical part of a healthy recovery. If you have additional questions about wisdom teeth removal, call or click to book a visit.