Wisdom teeth, also called “third molars,” are the last teeth to develop and grow into the mouth. They are located in the very back of the mouth, near the entrance to the throat. Wisdom teeth usually finish their development between the ages of 15-21 years, a time that is traditionally seen as when one gains maturity and “wisdom.”

Teeth become impacted when there is not enough space for them to grow into the mouth, and their normal growth and eruption are prevented by overlying gums, bone, or another tooth. Many times, teeth that have been impacted appear to erupt later in life; this is usually from the adjacent gums receding, or pulling back, because of gum disease.

It is not normal for a tooth to remain below the surface; if wisdom teeth are impacted, difficulties may develop. The most common problem associated with impacted teeth is pain: it may be dull and aching, or sharp and excruciating pain. Also, infections tend to develop that are very painful and may be serious, requiring antibiotics and even hospitalization.

Just because a wisdom tooth doesn’t hurt doesn’t mean it’s without problems: we know today that as many as one third of all people who have wisdom teeth have what are called “silent infections.” These painless, longstanding infections are linked to heart disease, stroke, and low birth weight pregnancies later in life.

Impacted teeth have also been known to damage roots of nearby teeth, occurring in about 5% of all impactions. In addition, other problems associated with impacted teeth include: periodontal disease (which is felt to increase overall, and be progressive and resistant to treatment when wisdom teeth begin to show), decay, cysts or tumors, and crowding of other teeth in the mouth.

The removal of a wisdom tooth is a minor surgical operation. Depending on how impacted they are, the removal of wisdom teeth often requires an incision of the gums, possible cutting of tooth, and some removal of bone.

The entire surgery may last for a series of minutes, depending on the difficulty of the procedure, with the whole appointment lasting an hour or so. Anesthetic is used, as well as sterile instruments. Dissolvable stitches are often employed to aid in the healing process.