Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth or 3rd molars are the last teeth to develop and erupt into the mouth, occurring between the ages of 17 to 25. In most cases there is insufficient room for wisdom teeth to erupt into the mouth and serve as functional teeth. Wisdom teeth that do not erupt become impacted and can become a source of infection or damage to the adjacent tooth. More serious complications such as cysts or tumors can also develop around an impacted wisdom tooth. It is generally recommended that wisdom teeth be removed during the teenage years and before problems develop. Although wisdom teeth can be removed under local anesthesia (numbing shots) only, it is generally recommended that the surgery be performed under IV sedation or general anesthesia. Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons are experts at the removal of wisdom teeth and providing IV sedation or general anesthesia. For more information see http://aaoms.org/wisdom_teeth.php