Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom Teeth General Information
The average adult has 32 teeth by age eighteen, however, the average mouth is made to hold only 28 teeth. It can be painful when 32 teeth try and fit in a mouth that holds 28 teeth. These four other teeth are your third molars, also known as “wisdom teeth”.
I am often asked the question: “Why should I remove my wisdom teeth?”
Wisdom teeth are typically the last to erupt into the mouth. When they align properly, and gum tissue is healthy, they do not need to be removed. Unfortunately, this does not generally happen. The extraction of these teeth is deemed prudent when they are prevented from properly erupting within the mouth. Some grow sideways, only partially emerge through the gum, or even remain beneath the gum and the bone. These are known as impacted teeth.
Wisdom Teeth Extraction
If you are interested in learning more about wisdom teeth services, please discuss this with your family dentist or call our office and we would be glad to provide you with additional information.
Wisdom Teeth Removal at Harbourside Surgical
Poorly positioned, impacted teeth can cause many problems. With partially erupted teeth, the opening around the tooth allows bacteria to grow and can eventually cause an infection. The presence of wisdom teeth may lead to poor oral hygiene which can result in both dental decay and periodontal disease which may negatively affect not just the wisdom teeth but adjacent teeth as well. Sometimes tumors or cysts form around an impacted wisdom tooth can result in destruction of the jaw bone. Removal of the offending impacted tooth or teeth usually resolves these problems and early extraction is recommended to avoid future problems and to decrease surgical risk.
At Harbourside Oral & Facial Surgical Centre, extraction of wisdom teeth can be done in our clinic as an outpatient procedure and can be performed under various types of anaesthesia to make the procedure more comfortable. These procedures are provided in an environment of optimum safety, utilizing modern monitoring equipment and staff experienced in anaesthesia techniques.