Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last adult teeth to develop, one at each back corner of the mouth. Front teeth (incisors and cuspids) are used to grasp and bite through food while the back teeth, (bicuspids and molars) are for grinding food into a consistency for swallowing. Adults have 32 teeth, but the average mouth is usually able to accommodate only 28. Thus, the late-developing wisdom teeth struggle to find space to fit. When there is room for them, they act as a normal molar and, if the surrounding gum tissue is healthy, they are not likely to require removal. Unfortunately, this is not the usual case.

When wisdom teeth don't have the room to reach their normal space, they are termed "impacted," and the process of tooth eruption can be painful and damaging to your mouth. They may grow sideways or at an angle, only partially emerge from the gum, or remain trapped beneath the gum and bone. Impacted teeth can take unusual pathways as they attempt to erupt and may cause serious problems in the process. When they are partially erupted the opening around the tooth allows bacteria to enter a protected space which may eventually lead to infection, often effecting the adjacent tooth. The result is swelling, stiffness, pain and illness. Pressure from an erupting tooth may move adjacent teeth or disrupt the natural alignment of teeth. The most serious problem occurs when tumors or cysts form around an impacted tooth, resulting in destruction of surrounding bone and sometimes damaging nearby teeth.

Removal of the offending impacted tooth or teeth usually resolves these problems. With a proper examination and x-rays of the mouth, our doctors can evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth and predict if there may be a future problem. Early removal is recommended to avoid future problems and decrease the significant surgical risks associated with removal of impacted teeth later in life.

All outpatient surgery is performed under an anesthetic which you choose - oral sedation, nitrous oxide analgesia (laughing gas), intravenous sedation or general anesthesia - as well as the usual numbing with local anesthesia. Our doctors have the training, license and experience to provide any anesthetic to make treatment more comfortable. These services are provided in an environment of optimum safety, utilizing modern monitoring equipment and with a staff experienced in anesthesia techniques.

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