Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last teeth to erupt in your mouth. This generally occurs between the ages of 15 and 21. Most people don’t have enough room for the wisdom teeth to erupt properly, thereby setting the stage for problems when the final four molars enter the mouth. Sometimes these teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned, but more often, they are misaligned and require removal.

What is an Impacted Tooth?

A tooth becomes impacted when there is a lack of space in the dental arch and its growth and eruption are prevented by overlying gum, bone or another tooth. A tooth may be partially impacted, which means a portion of it has broken through the gum, or totally impacted and unable to break through the gum at all.

How Serious is an Impacted Tooth?

Impacted and partially impacted teeth can be painful and lead to infection. They may also crowd or damage adjacent teeth or roots.

More serious problems may occur if the sac surrounding the impacted tooth becomes filled with fluid and enlarges to form a cyst. As the cyst grows it may damage adjacent teeth, the surrounding bone and nerves. Rarely, a more serious surgical procedure may be required to remove it.

It is not only impacted wisdom teeth that need to be removed. Even fully erupted wisdom teeth sometimes require removal. If, due to the fact that it is so far in the back of the mouth, the tooth cannot be cared for properly, it is best to remove it before problems develop.

Studies have shown that third molars which have broken through the tissue and erupted into the mouth in a normal, upright position may be as prone to disease as those third molars that remain impacted.