Why is wisdom teeth removal necessary? While not everyone needs to have their wisdom teeth removed, for many they can be the cause of pain or discomfort. Most people’s mouth cannot accommodate all 32 teeth and because the third molars, commonly called ‘wisdom teeth’, are the last to appear there is often not enough room for the size and shape of these teeth.

These wisdom teeth typically show up between ages 17-21 and in most cases are removed for any of the following reasons:

• They are erupting into an abnormal position, such as tilted, sideways or twisted.
• They are trapped below the gum line due to lack of space.
• Pericoronitis has developed which is an infection resulting from trapped food, plaque and bacteria.
• The way the teeth bite together has changed, causing misalignment of the jaws.
• Because they are more difficult to reach, proper hygiene is difficult and can result in tooth decay of the erupted wisdom teeth.

Even though your regular dentist can give you an indication if you or a loved one should have your wisdom teeth removed, it’s best to consult with an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon as we are specially trained to deal with all things wisdom teeth.

Feel free to contact my office at (704) 542-9600 to schedule a consultation and to get all your questions about wisdom teeth answered.