Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt in the mouth. They are the third set of molars that typically emerge between the ages 17 and 25.
They do not cause problems as long as they come through in the right position. However, if there is not enough room for them to grow in, if they are unable to erupt fully through the gums or if they are impacted or trapped in your jaw under your gums, your wisdom teeth may need to be extracted.
With regular checkups, your dentist is able to monitor your wisdom teeth. Here are possible reasons that may prompt your dentist to recommend wisdom tooth extraction.
Aside from discovering your new molars in the rear of your mouth, symptoms including pain and tenderness in the gums may indicate that your wisdom teeth are growing.
Symptoms that may indicate a problem with your wisdom teeth include bleeding, red or swollen gums, jaw pain or swelling, bad breath or unpleasant taste in your mouth and difficulty opening your mouth.
Impacted wisdom teeth can cause tooth damage, decay, pain and cysts. If you feel any of the symptoms above, visit your dentist right away.
Depending on the complexity of the surgery and the position of your wisdom teeth, your dentist may refer you to Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMS). An OMS is the surgical experts of dentistry. They are trained to safely and accurately perform surgical extractions of one or all of your wisdom teeth.