Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Wisdom teeth are the large molars found at the very back of the jaw. They are the last teeth to appear (erupt) in the mouth, usually between the ages of 18 and 24 years, although this can vary. If the jaw is too small to accommodate them, they may cause pain or crowd other teeth out of position. Impaction means that the tooth may be partially trapped by the jawbone, back teeth or gums. These teeth can grow sideways, emerge only part way from the gum or remain trapped beneath the gum and bone. Wisdom teeth are extracted for two general reasons: either the wisdom teeth have already become impacted, or the wisdom teeth could potentially become problematic if not extracted. Potential problems include infections caused by food particles easily trapped in the jaw area behind the wisdom teeth where regular brushing and flossing is difficult. Such infections may be frequent, and cause considerable pain. . Other reasons wisdom teeth are removed include misalignment which rubs up against the tongue or cheek causing pain and potential crowding of the remaining teeth.