The third molars, commonly known as the wisdom teeth, are particularly prone to problems both above the gum line as well as below. These are the last teeth to come in, which typically happens between the ages of 17 and 21. Because most healthy adults already have a full set of teeth, there is rarely enough room to accommodate four additional teeth in the mouth.
As a result, the growth of the wisdom teeth tends to become distorted. Due to the lack of space and the upward curvature of the jawbone, the wisdom teeth are often found to be angled sideways and many wisdom teeth fail to reach their full height above the gums (a condition known as impaction). Problems associated with the wisdom teeth include: swelling, infection, and pain. When complications such as these arise, it is sometimes necessary to have the wisdom teeth carefully extracted by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
The oral surgery procedure for removing the wisdom teeth is fairly common. However, removing wisdom teeth — especially those that have not erupted or are unable to erupt — involves a level of surgical expertise that is far more complicated than the extraction of an erupted tooth. While some general dentists have the ability and equipment to remove impacted wisdom teeth, most wisdom teeth extractions are performed in the office of a specialist such as an oral surgeon.
Your Comfort
As wisdom teeth extraction is a surgical procedure, most of our patients prefer to be sedated during their visit. We offer several sedation dentistry and anesthetic options. We place an emphasis on pain management and ensure you are comfortable throughout the entire process.