Wisdom teeth are permanent teeth in the back four corners of your mouth. They are the last adult teeth to emerge, somewhere between the ages of 17 and 25. Sometimes they don’t always grow in properly or there is not enough room to come through the gum line, causing an impacted tooth. If this is the case, one or more of the wisdom teeth may need to be extracted.
Also, a dentist may suggest they be extracted simply to prevent future problems, since they are hard to reach when brushing and often lead to decay and infections.
What Happens at an Appointment
A local anesthetic will be given to numb the area surrounding the problem tooth or teeth. Sedation therapy can be used if needing an extra sense of calm for the procedure, and general anesthesia may used in special circumstances. The teeth will carefully be removed, follow-up care given, and a return visit may be be scheduled.
