All About Wisdom Teeth
Information about identifying your wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that people usually get in their late teens or early
twenties. These teeth may sometimes be a valuable asset to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned, but more
often, they require removal because they are misaligned.
Misaligned wisdom teeth present multiple problems. They can position themselves horizontally, be angled toward or
away from the second molars or be angled inward or outward. Bad alignment may actually damage adjacent teeth, the
jawbone, or nerves. Wisdom teeth that lean toward the second molars entrap plaque and debris, making those teeth
more vulnerable to decay.
Additionally, wisdom teeth can be trapped completely within the soft tissue and/or the jawbone or only partially
break through or erupt through the gum. Teeth that remain entrapped within the soft tissue and /or the jawbone are
termed "impacted,” and wisdom teeth that only partially erupt allows for an opening for bacteria to enter around
the tooth and cause an infection, which results in pain, swelling, jaw stiffness, and general illness. Because
their hard-to-reach location and awkward positioning makes brushing and flossing difficult, partially erupted teeth
are also more prone to tooth decay and gum disease.
Identifying Misaligned or Impacted Wisdom Teeth
You can ask your dentist about the positioning of your wisdom teeth and he or she may take an X-ray periodically to
evaluate the presence alignment of your wisdom teeth. Your dentist may also decide to send you to an oral surgeon
for further evaluation. Your dentist or oral surgeon might recommend that your wisdom teeth be extracted even
before problems develop to avoid a more painful or more complicated extraction that might have to be done a few
years later. Wisdom teeth removal are easiest for younger people whose the wisdom teeth roots are not yet fully
developed.
How Is a Wisdom Tooth Removed?
The position of your impacted teeth determines the ease with which your doctor or surgeon is able to remove your
wisdom teeth. A wisdom tooth fully erupted through the gum can be extracted as easily as any other tooth, but a
wisdom tooth underneath the gums and embedded in the jawbone will require an incision into the gums and then
removal of the portion of bone that lies over the tooth. Sometimes, the tooth will be extracted in small sections
rather than removed in one piece to minimize the amount of bone that needs to be removed to get the tooth out.
Wisdom tooth removal procedure
Before extraction, the tooth and the surrounding tissue will be numbed with a local anesthetic. Your doctor or
surgeon might also decide whether a sedative is desired to control your anxiety.
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