Wisdom teeth-Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are present variably from person to person. The third molars are the last teeth to erupt and typically will start to do so in the teens and twenties. In some cases, there is adequate space for the teeth and they erupt into function and do not require preventative treatment. Other individuals never develop wisdom teeth. The remaining individuals will often develop wisdom teeth which become impacted, meaning that there is inadequate space to allow the teeth to fully erupt into the mouth. When this occurs, the impacted teeth can cause a variety of problems during the adult years, including pain, infection, damage to adjacent teeth, crowded or poorly positioned teeth, and development of benign cysts or tumors of the jaws.
If you have concerns regarding your wisdom teeth, a consultation and x-ray will determine the treatment that is best for you. In general, it is easier to remove impacted wisdom teeth as a preventative measure during adolescence or young adulthood rather than waiting for a problem to develop during the adult years. However, our adult wisdom tooth patients are routinely treated successfully with a minimum of discomfort and inconvenience.