SE Calgary Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Wisdom tooth extraction is a surgical procedure to remove one or more wisdom teeth – the four permanent adult teeth located at the back corners of your mouth on the top and bottom. It is a fairly common procedure, and one East Dental Care is pleased to offer.

Your wisdom teeth, or third molars as they’re also called, are typically the last permanent teeth to develop (erupt) in your mouth. These teeth usually appear between the ages of 17-25. Some people never develop wisdom teeth. For others, wisdom teeth erupt normally, just as their other molars did, and cause no problems. For many, however, there is just not enough room to accommodate them. If they are impeded from erupting properly into the mouth, this can result in pain, cavities, teeth crowding, or even gum infections. Sometimes Wisdom Teeth can develop diagonally and horizontally, causing significant problems in your mouth. This is known as Impacted Wisdom Teeth. Impacted Wisdom Teeth can be a fertile ground for pain, swelling, discomfort, and even illness. Early removal of your Wisdom Teeth can avoid future problems and as we all know, the younger you are the better and quicker you heal.

An impacted wisdom tooth may:

• Grow at an angle toward the next tooth (second molar)
• Grow at an angle toward the back of the mouth
• Grow at a right angle to the other teeth, as if the wisdom tooth is “lying down” within the jawbone
• Grow straight up or down like other teeth but stay trapped within the jawbone

Your dentist will make this recommendation based on your examination and x-rays. Impacted wisdom teeth are usually removed because of the problems they are causing or because of the problems that may arise if they remain in the mouth. In many cases, damage caused by wisdom teeth is not visible on the surface. X-rays of the mouth are therefore necessary to see what is going on underneath the gum, and to determine what type of extraction is required.

Not all wisdom teeth have to be removed. In some cases, there is sufficient room, and wisdom teeth are able to erupt and function normally. In other cases, they remain buried in bone and are unlikely to erupt. And still, in other cases, the wisdom teeth never develop.

The most common wisdom tooth that can cause issues is that which only erupts partially in the mouth. The main risk that this may pose is the potential for infection between the overhanging gum tissue and the tooth itself. Wisdom teeth can be a valuable asset if they grow vertically and are aligned properly. However, these teeth have been known to grow diagonally and horizontally, thus causing problems. This uneven growth can cause a myriad of issues, including infection of surrounding tissues and damage to the adjacent second molars.

At East Dental Care, we recommend early removal of impacted wisdom teeth when indicated to avoid future problems. If you’re unsure as to when you should get your wisdom teeth removed, please contact us, and we’ll be more than happy to help you.

You’ll likely need your wisdom tooth extracted if it results in:

• Pain
• Trapping of food and debris
• Infection and or gum disease (periodontal disease)
• Tooth decay in a partially erupted wisdom tooth
• Damage to a nearby tooth

It depends. Some teeth are important for function or aesthetics. For example, the first molar tooth is very important for chewing, so not replacing it could result in loss of function, other teeth drifting, and an unbalanced bite. However, some other teeth, such as wisdom teeth, are not replaced. To ensure no surprises down the road, this is an issue that is addressed by your dentist prior to tooth removal.