Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are extracted for two general reasons: either the wisdom teeth have already become impacted, or the wisdom teeth could potentially become problematic if not extracted.
What are impacted wisdom teeth? Wisdom teeth are the third molars, the last teeth to erupt into the month. Impacted wisdom teeth are unable to erupt. They may have grown in at an awkward angle or are blocked by another tooth or even your jawbone. Over time, your impacted tooth could cause problems such as decay, damage to other teeth, infection and/or pain.
Wisdom teeth appear between the ages of 17 and 21. However, they may begin causing problems years earlier. Most of the time there is not always enough room at the back of your jaw for your wisdom teeth; this can lead to inflammation, pain and difficulty opening your jaw.
Another concern is that wisdom teeth that have grown in improperly can cause infections by trapping food particles in the jaw area behind the teeth. This area then becomes infected because regular brushing and flossing is difficult and ineffective. Such infections may be frequent and can cause considerable pain and medical concern. Dr. Pampena routinely removes wisdom teeth surgically in the office while patients are sedated. Having removed over 1000 of these teeth, Dr. Pampena is quite experienced with this type of oral surgery.
Dr. Pampena will always suggest saving a tooth whenever possible. Other than wisdom teeth, you may have other problematic teeth that have decay or have been traumatized. There are ways to save your original teeth from extraction and we suggest that you speak with Dr. Pampena or one of our The Pines Dental team members before you decide which course of action is best for you.