Wisdom Tooth Removal

Wisdom teeth are the last to erupt in the oral cavity. They come in between the ages of 17-25 years. If a wisdom tooth doesn't have room to grow (impacted wisdom tooth), resulting in pain, infection, or other dental problems they need to be surgically extracted.

An impacted wisdom tooth may:

Grow at an angle toward the next tooth (second molar)

Grow at an angle toward the back of the mouth

Grow at a right angle to the other teeth, as if the wisdom tooth is "lying down" within the jawbone

Grow straight up or down like other teeth but stay trapped within the jawbone

Problems with impacted wisdom teeth

A wisdom tooth needs to be removed if it results in problems such as:

Pain

Trapping food and debris behind the wisdom tooth

Infection or gum disease (periodontal disease)

Tooth decay in a partially erupted wisdom tooth

Damage to a nearby tooth or surrounding bone

Development of a fluid-filled sac (cyst) around the wisdom tooth

Complications with orthodontic treatments to straighten other teeth

How you prepare

Your dentist may perform the procedure in the office. However, if your tooth is deeply impacted or if the extraction requires an in-depth surgical approach, your dentist may suggest you see an oral surgeon. In addition to making the area numb with local anaesthetic, your surgeon may suggest sedation to allow you to be more comfortable during the procedure.

PROCEDURE

A wisdom tooth needs to be removed if it results in problems such as:

Local anaesthesia. Your dentist administers local anaesthesia near the site of each extraction.

An incision in the gum tissue to expose the tooth and bone

Removal of bone that blocks access to the tooth root

Tooth removal

Stitches may be needed to close the wound and promote healing, though this isn't always necessary

A compress is placed over the extraction site to control bleeding and to help a blood clot form