Wisdom
Tooth
Extraction

What are
Wisdom Teeth?

Most of us get our third set of molars, commonly called wisdom teeth, between the ages of 17-25. These teeth are actually a throwback to our ancestors tens of thousands of years ago. They had stronger jaws and needed lots of teeth due to their primitive diet. As civilization progressed to softer prepared foods, these wisdom teeth weren’t as crucial anymore and today, unfortunately lead to a whole host of dental issues instead.

Why do Wisdom Teeth need to be Removed?

Since wisdom teeth are our last set of teeth to erupt, they often lack the space necessary to properly align along our jaw. As a consequence, these teeth can grow in poorly positioned and lead to a variety of issues – from bad breath to the destruction of surrounding teeth and jawbone.

If a patient’s jaw is too small, the arrival of wisdom teeth can lead to excessive crowding. This issue can lead to the wisdom teeth becoming impacted, which means they’re unable to properly and healthily emerge, which can harm the surrounding teeth and bone.

Wisdom teeth can also grow in a crooked position. This can, again, create a domino effect that damages neighbouring teeth and lead to uncomfortable bite problems.

Sometimes, a patient’s wisdom teeth never fully erupt. This issue can lead to an ongoing con- cern for bacterial infections. In some cases, unerupted wisdom teeth can also promote the growth of a cyst which can cause an infection and even damage nearby bone or nerve tissue.

Whatever your reason for considering wisdom teeth removal, rest assured that the extraction process is a relatively common procedure. In fact, hundreds of thousands of Canadian patients get their wisdom teeth removed every year.

 

At GMDG, a wisdom teeth removal specialist will perform a thorough examination and run diagnostic tests before advising you on your treatment options. If the benefits of extraction need to be weighed against a small risk or complication, we will provide unbiased advice while keeping your whole health top of mind.