Our jaws have evolved in such a way which does not allow sufficient space for the eruption of a third set of molars, also known as wisdom teeth.
As a result of this, wisdom teeth can often cause problems for many people. These problems include food impaction, pain, decay in the wisdom tooth itself, or adjacent teeth, swelling in the region of the wisdom tooth and infection. The presence of these third molars may also cause gum and bone disease, due to the build up of bacteria in that area, since they become very difficult to clean.
Impacted teeth are generally more likely to cause problems. Impaction means that the wisdom teeth will not grow or erupt into a position that allows them to be functional. Impaction may be due to the angulation of the tooth, or its blockage by bone.
Your dentist at Concord Dental Practice will be able to assess your wisdom teeth with the use of an orthopantomogram (OPG) xray and let you know whether they can either be monitored, or otherwise planned for extraction. Sometimes, if your dentist thinks there is adequate space in your jaw, your wisdom teeth can be left alone without further treatment.
The recovery time for younger patients after wisdom teeth extraction is much shorter than that for an older patient.
As a general rule, your wisdom teeth will become more difficult to remove the older you are.
At Concord Dental Practice, most wisdom teeth can be removed in our rooms. We offer both nitroux oxide sedation and IV sedation for the more anxious patient. For the more complex cases, a referral to an oral surgeon can be provided.