Wisdom Teeth, or third molars, develop in most young adults. The challenge with wisdom teeth in most cases is that they are very difficult to keep clean and/or there is not enough room for them and are therefore highly susceptible to tooth decay, infection, and gum disease.

Wisdom teeth are actually called third molars. Most people refer to the 3rd molars as wisdom teeth, but where did they get this name? The third molars do not grow out until the dental arch becomes larger, around the age of 17-25, a time also referred to as the “age of wisdom”.

About 65% of the population will develop wisdom teeth between ages 12 and 15. Some wisdom teeth will never erupt and stay impacted. Those that do erupt, can cause pain as they erupt through the gum tissue. There are clinical examinations and radiographs that should be taken prior to the removal of any teeth, especially wisdom teeth, as they may be close to the mandibular nerve or sinus cavity. Removal of wisdom teeth is a surgical procedure and is often recommended to be done under conscious sedation. If you or your child is experiencing pain or tenderness, erupted wisdom teeth could be one of many causes. Give us a call and we will make the proper diagnosis and design the best treatment plan for the problem.