Wisdom Teeth Extraction

“Wisdom Teeth” is term that we use to refer to someone’s 3rd molars – usually the furthest-back teeth in the mouth on the top and bottom jaws.

The primary reason that many people need their Wisdom Teeth taken out is because there is no room in their mouth for the Wisdom Teeth to erupt. Sometimes a Wisdom Tooth can stay buried under the gum and in the bone and thus never needs to be addressed. However, other Wisdom Teeth can be in a position that is very close to the tooth in front of it (the second molar); and when a 3rd molar is too close to the 2nd molar, it can lead to problems with the 2nd molar, including cavities and gum problems.

In order to remove a wisdom tooth, your dentist first needs to numb the area around the tooth with a local anesthetic. Since the impacted tooth may still be under the gums and embedded in your jaw bone, your dentist will need to remove a portion of the covering bone to extract the tooth. In order to minimize the amount of bone that is removed with the tooth, your dentist will often “section” your wisdom tooth so that each piece can be removed through a small opening in the bone. Once your wisdom teeth have been extracted, the healing process begins. Depending on the degree of difficulty related to the extraction, healing time varies. Your dentist will share with you what to expect and provide instructions for a comfortable, efficient healing process.