Wisdom Teeth Extractions

If a patient has sufficient space for their wisdom teeth to erupt, there is no need to have these teeth extracted.  However, for most people, this is not the case.

An impacted wisdom tooth is one that has not erupted at all.  A partially impacted wisdom tooth is one that has partly erupted. 

Wisdom teeth can lead to problems if they do not fully erupt.  Here are the problems that an impacted or a partially impacted wisdom tooth can cause:

• Wisdom teeth that aren’t in the right position can allow food to become trapped. That gives cavity-causing bacteria a place to grow.
• Wisdom teeth that haven’t come in properly, can make it difficult to floss between the wisdom teeth and the molars next to them.
• Wisdom teeth that have partially come through can give bacteria a place to enter the gums and create a place for infection to occur. This may also lead to pain, swelling and stiffness in your jaw.
• Wisdom teeth that don’t have room to erupt can damage neighboring teeth.
• A wisdom tooth that is impacted can form a cyst on or near the impacted tooth. This could damage the roots of nearby teeth or destroy the bone that supports your teeth.

Wisdom teeth that are not removed should continue to be monitored because the potential for developing problems later on still exists. 

At Foothill Dental Group, patients have the option to get their wisdom teeth removed by an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon.

Their advanced training in anesthesia allows them to provide quality care with maximum patient comfort and safety in the office setting