Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, CA

Wisdom teeth or “third molars,” are your last teeth to surface. This typically happens between the ages of 17 and 25, or your, “Age of Wisdom.”

While healthy and properly positioned wisdom teeth can be an asset to your mouth, this is seldom the case. Most often, wisdom teeth create problems and must be removed to prevent overcrowding and maintain good oral health.

Problems

There are a few different problems that can develop when wisdom teeth erupt; or try to erupt. These include:

• Impacted wisdom teeth—this happens when your wisdom teeth grow without sufficient room, and threaten to damage adjacent teeth. A fluid-filled sac (or cyst) can form, which often destroys the neighboring bone and gums.
• Partial eruption—this happens when your wisdom teeth begin to erupt, but fail to do so entirely. This condition leaves an opening for bacteria, which can lead to an infection, TMJ pain, swelling and stiffness in your jaw.
• Crooked growth—if this happens, your wisdom teeth can include the same ailments as a partial eruption. If they grow sideways, your wisdom teeth could also become impacted, and damage the surrounding teeth and gums. Wisdom teeth may also become trapped beneath your gum and cause similar problems.

If your wisdom teeth fully surface, it is extremely important—although more difficult—to maintain good oral hygiene. Routine flossing and brushing is harder and because of it; tooth decay is more likely to occur. Erupted wisdom teeth can also lead to crowding and rotating of the teeth in front of them. They may also grow sideways, or become trapped beneath the gum and the bone. In any case, x-rays will need to be taken to evaluate the shape, position, and condition of the wisdom teeth.

For more information, see Problems With Wisdom Teeth.

The younger the better

Having wisdom tooth extracted is a normal part of becoming an adult. Most people have their wisdom tooth extracted at some point, usually in their late teenage years, or their early 20s. If these are removed, it is recommended that the procedure takes place before age 30, because the chance of complications is less.

When you are younger, your tooth roots have not fully formed, and the surrounding bone is much softer. This makes the extraction process much easier and the recovery smoother and quicker. The bone surrounding your wisdom teeth also has a greater ability to heal before age 30.

The procedure

Your gum tissue that lies over your tooth will be removed, and the connective tissue stripped away from your tooth and bone. Your wisdom teeth are then removed and your gum is sewn back up.

After surgery, you may experience numbness or tingling. Normal sensation usually returns within several days to a week, sometimes more. 

Some of the risks involved with wisdom teeth extraction include:

• Pain
• Bleeding
• Swelling
• Persistent sinus opening
• Numbness in the lower lip

If you or a family member is between the ages of 17 and 25 and have not had your wisdom teeth removed, please contact our office today for a free consultation. Serving the patients of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, our staff can help you decide if it is a good time to remove your wisdom teeth before they become problematic.