Wisdom teeth are alternatively called Third Molars. Most people have 4 wisdom teeth, 2 in the upper jaw and 2 in the lower jaw. Some people do not develop all their wisdom teeth and can be missing one or more wisdom teeth Wisdom teeth generally erupt into the mouth from about 18 years to 25 years old. The reasons to remove wisdom teeth are considered on a case by case basis as it is not always necessary to remove wisdom teeth.

In many people there is not enough space at the rear of the jaws for wisdom teeth to fully erupt and be functional. When there is not enough space for the wisdom tooth to come through, the tooth becomes wedged or “impacted”. Impactions can involve just soft tissue (gum), or hard tissue (bone). Some fully buried wisdom teeth remain in place and cause no obvious trouble; however, many will eventually cause problems.

We may professionally recommend wisdom teeth removal if there is insufficient room for the tooth/teeth to erupt, you are in need of orthodontic treatment or if you are experiencing symptoms associated with the eruption/impaction of your wisdom teeth.

When a decision is made to proceed with wisdom teeth removal, it is best to have them removed while you are young. In young people, the roots are not fully formed and the surrounding bone is softer. This often allows for easier wisdom teeth removal which means less post-operative pain and faster healing. Early wisdom teeth removal is also recommended for the following reasons:

1. To avoid further and more complicated impactions
2. To reduce the chance of infection from a partially erupted wisdom tooth
3. To remove any foodtraps created by a partially erupted wisdom tooth
4. To prevent harm to adjacent teeth
5. To avoid the formation of cysts
6. To reduce potential crowding and assist orthodontic treatment by lessening the effects of pushing and crowding on remaining teeth as the wisdom teeth try to move forward or erupt.
7. To remove or prevent problems like pain, swelling and/or infection associated with eruption/partial eruption of wisdom teeth.

Wisdom teeth that are left for a “wait and see approach” can be harder to remove at a later date and can result in a slower and more painful healing phase. There is also a greater chance of complications from the surgery required to remove them as the teeth are more likely to encroach on surrounding nerves as their roots develop fully.