Removing Your Wisdom Teeth

We work with great care to remove your wisdom teeth.

Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, are often extracted either before or after they come in. They commonly come in during the late teens or early twenties. These teeth often get stuck in the jaw (impacted) and do not come in. They need to be removed if they are decayed or cause pain. Some wisdom teeth are blocked by other teeth or may not have enough room to come in completely. This can irritate the gum, causing pain and swelling. In this case, the tooth must be removed. If you need all four wisdom teeth removed, they are usually taken out at the same time. The top teeth are usually easier to remove then the lower teeth.

Here are the types of wisdom teeth, in the order from easiest to remove to most complex to remove:

• Erupted (already in the mouth)
• Soft-tissue impacted (just under the gum)
• Partial-bony impacted (partially stuck in the jaw)
• Full-bony impacted (completely stuck in the jaw)

Also, if your wisdom teeth are tilted sideways, they can be harder to remove than if they are vertical. Most simple extractions do not cause much discomfort after the procedure. You may take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and other brand names) for several days. You may not need any pain medicine at all.