Do I need my wisdom teeth out?

Wisdom teeth, or third molars, do not always erupt properly when they decide to make an appearance. It is wise to get an opinion from your dentist on getting wisdom teeth extracted before they become impacted, causing pain, swelling, infection, caries and gum disease.

Why don't wisdom teeth grow in correctly?
The shape of the modern human mouth is often too small to accommodate wisdom teeth. Over the course of time, humans have developed smaller jaws as processed foods have reduced the need for strong jaws to chew food.

What does impacted mean?
When wisdom teeth don't have room to grow they are considered to be impacted. A full set of healthy teeth sometimes doesn't leave much room for wisdom teeth to grow.

What kind of problems can this cause?
Partially erupted wisdom teeth are breeding grounds for organisms that may cause infection. Jaw pain and gum disease may follow.

Can't I just use antibiotics?
Antibiotics only soothe infected wisdom teeth for a short time. At the end of the day, antibiotics do not solve the real problem - the tooth can't fit in your mouth.

When is removal necessary?
It isn't wise to wait until wisdom teeth bother you. Early removal is advisable to avoid problems. At an early age, patients should be evaluated by their dentist who can track the development of their wisdom teeth using x-rays.

What if I don't have any symptoms?
Those patients with no symptoms can avoid the chance of ever suffering from impacted wisdom teeth or achieve better orthodontic treatment results by having them removed.
Your dentist will advise.

How is the tooth removed?
Surgery for impacted wisdom teeth involves cutting the gum tissue over the tooth, gently stripping connective tissue away from the tooth and bone, removing the tooth and stitching the gum back into place.