WISDOM TOOTH EXTRACTION
The last four permanent teeth to appear in your mouth are the third molars, also known as wisdom teeth. Even for those of us who have the best oral health, they often become problematic. Your dentist will suggest to remove the wisdom teeth if they detect it can cause complications in your mouth, even if they aren’t causing you problems at the moment. Wisdom teeth are also easier to remove when you’re younger than when you are older.
Wisdom teeth are in the very back of the mouth, they often don’t have enough room to grow in. It’s not unusual for wisdom teeth to be positioned crooked or sideways in the jaw, keeping them from erupting into the mouth properly. This is referred to as an “impacted” tooth.
Healthy teeth can be damaged as impacted wisdom teeth push against the neighboring molars.
Impacted wisdom teeth often become decayed or infected because they’re hard to reach with your toothbrush.
Bacteria around the impacted tooth can lead to gum disease and infection around the tooth causing swelling of the gums and pain in that area.
Fluid-filled cysts or tumors occasionally form around the bottom of an impacted wisdom tooth, causing damage to the jawbone, nerves in the area and nearby teeth.