Wisdom Tooth Removal
The four permanent adult teeth known as wisdom teeth are placed at the top and bottom back corners of your mouth. A wisdom tooth extraction is a surgical procedure to remove one or more of these teeth.
You'll probably need to have a wisdom tooth removed if it is impacted, or if it is causing you pain, an infection, or other dental issues. An oral surgeon or a dentist can remove a wisdom tooth.
Even if impacted teeth aren't currently causing issues, some dentists and oral surgeons advise wisdom tooth extraction to avoid potential future issues.
Problems with impacted wisdom teeth
You'll likely need your impacted wisdom tooth pulled if it results in problems such as:
- Pain
- Trapping food and debris behind the wisdom tooth
- Infection or gum disease (periodontal disease)
- Tooth decay in a partially erupted wisdom tooth
- Damage to a nearby tooth or surrounding bone
- Development of a fluid-filled sac (cyst) around the wisdom tooth
- Complications with orthodontic treatments to straighten other teeth