Wisdom Teeth Extraction Specialist

What symptoms can wisdom teeth problems cause?

Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to emerge, coming in the way in the back of the jaw where they can be very difficult to reach. For many people, wisdom teeth can cause considerable tooth pain or pain in the jaw arising as a result of crowding, impaction or other problems that develop as they attempt to emerge through the gums. Pain can also be caused by gum disease, abscesses, and decay in these teeth, which are notoriously difficult to keep clean. A persistent sour taste and chronic bad breath are symptoms which may also be associated with wisdom tooth problems.

How can I tell if my wisdom teeth need to be removed?

The only way to know for sure if wisdom teeth need to be removed is to have them evaluated, and not just if they seem to be causing symptoms. Wisdom teeth that are decayed or infected need to be removed and those that are impacted under the gum also need to be removed to prevent crowding and pressure on neighboring teeth, which can cause those teeth to become loose or infected as well. But even when wisdom teeth come in without incidence and have not yet become decayed or infected, most people will still benefit from having them removed. That is because wisdom teeth are very difficult to maintain, and eventually, most wisdom teeth become harbors for dangerous bacteria that can cause infection and decay not just in these teeth, but in other teeth as well. Having wisdom teeth removed can help prevent these problems from occurring in the future.

How are wisdom teeth removed?

Because they have very deep roots, wisdom teeth usually require incisions into the gum and sometimes the jaw bone to access the entire tooth and root and remove it. Incisions are closed with tiny sutures, and wisdom tooth extraction procedures are performed using sedation to enable patients to “sleep” throughout.