Wisdom Teeth Extraction at Aesthetic Dental Center of Hackensack

At Aesthetic Dental Center of Hackensack, we want our patients to be fully informed about their teeth and what is involved with all of our procedures so that you can make informed decisions about your oral health. To this end, we have put together some information for you regarding wisdom teeth.

What are wisdom teeth?

Commonly known as wisdom teeth, these are third molars located in the back of the jawbones and usually erupting at the age of 17 - 21 years. Modern human beings do not really need wisdom teeth as our ancestors did. In the past, the human diet consisted of tougher foods like nuts and tough meats that required these additional teeth. Modern humans have developed practices like cooking food to soften it and using utensils to cut tough foods into smaller pieces.

You will know if you have wisdom teeth by looking into your mouth and locating three molars. But if a tooth has been impacted, its presence needs to be verified by a radiograph. This is a special type of X-ray that is being taken by a panoramic X-ray machine that looks at the angle of eruption and tooth development. When wisdom teeth are erupting, they normally lead to a feeling of pressure or throbbing.

When is wisdom teeth extraction needed?

In some cases, a wisdom tooth can erupt at a difficult angle, making it hard to clean and prevent tooth decay. In other cases, the presence of a wisdom tooth can lead to gum disease or gum recession. Also, there may not be adequate room in the mouth for an emerging wisdom tooth, leading to pressure on adjacent teeth and soft tissues. This type of pressure can cause jaw pain, tooth pain, or a bad headache that can only be corrected by wisdom teeth removal.

Sufficient space is necessary for the proper eruption of wisdom teeth. In some cases, a wisdom tooth may not erupt correctly, becoming stuck, either below the gum line, or in the area of eruption through the gums, known as an impacted wisdom tooth.

Regardless of whether the wisdom teeth are impacted or non-impacted, problems may arise. Some issues causing symptoms include swelling and pain; however, some wisdom teeth may be completely devoid of symptoms but are still causing problems. Many people have issues with their wisdom teeth quickly after their eruption, while others may not experience problems until later in their lives.

If you or your loved ones are having problems with your wisdom teeth, we encourage you to schedule an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Won-Sang Lee, our oral surgeon at Aesthetic Dental Center of Hackensack.