What are wisdom teeth?
The last molars to erupt in the back of your mouth are commonly known as the third molars, or “Wisdom Teeth“. They are called wisdom teeth because they usually begin coming in between the ages of 17 to 21 – often considered the “coming of age” in a person’s life. Normally an adult will have four wisdom teeth, but some adults have more and some have less.
Do I have to remove my wisdom teeth?
Because wisdom teeth are the 3rd or last molars in your mouth, many times they don’t have room to grow properly and can cause problems. Erupting wisdom teeth can grow at various angles in the jaw, even horizontally. Sometimes wisdom teeth only partially emerge through the gums. Other times, they remain completely hidden. Wisdom teeth that aren’t able to emerge normally become impacted, or trapped within your jaw.
Contrary to popular belief, wisdom teeth don’t have to be removed if they have grown in completely, are positioned correctly, and can be cleaned and cared for as part of your daily hygiene routine – and aren’t causing problems. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case.
Deciding whether to remove or extract wisdom teeth should only occur after a thorough oral exam with your AXIS Dental Group Dental Professional and a discussion regarding treatment options. If extraction is recommended, the surgery will be performed in our office, under appropriate anesthesia to maximize your comfort. On average, it takes less than 30 minutes to extract all four wisdom teeth.