Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to break through the gums. They grow at the very back of a person’s mouth. There are normally four wisdom teeth in total. With one in each of the furthest corners of the top and bottom gums.
Pain in the wisdom teeth may resolve on its own, but in some cases it will need either active home management or treatment in a hospital or dental clinic.
Ask your dentist about the positioning of your wisdom teeth. He/she may take x-rays periodically to evaluate for the presence and alignment of your wisdom teeth. Your dentist may also decide to send you to an oral surgeon for further evaluation.
Your dentist/surgeon may recommend that your wisdom teeth can be extracted even before problems develop. This is done to avoid a more painful or more complicated extraction that might have to be done a few years later.
Wisdom tooth removal is easier in young patients as the roots are not fully developed and bone is less dense.
In older people, recovery and healing time tend to be longer.
Removal: a wisdom tooth that is fully erupted through the gum can be extracted as easily as any other tooth. However, a wisdom tooth that is underneath the gums and embedded the jawbone will require an incision into the gums and then removal of the portion of bone that lies over the tooth.
Book an appointment with our wisdom tooth specialist.