Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are the last molars, or "third molars" that develop on each side of the jaw. They usually emerge in the back of the mouth between the ages of 16-20.
Wisdom teeth are a valuable asset to the mouth when they are healthy and properly positioned. Often, however, they can cause problems that require their removal. When the jaw isn't large enough to accommodate wisdom teeth, they can become impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth may grow sideways, emerge only part way through the gum or remain trapped beneath the gum and bone.
We remove wisdom teeth before the become impacted. If your wisdom teeth have already become impacted, you will be referred to an oral surgeon.
A wisdom tooth extraction is a relatively routine procedure. The dentist will numb the area in the mouth with a local anesthesia prior to extraction. After the tooth (or teeth) is removed, the patient is given gauze to softly bite down on for a recommended amount of time to limit any bleeding. Some pain, bruising and swelling may occur, but it will usually go away after a few days.