Wisdom Teeth Extractions at Dr Daniel Tebbi DMD, Dentist in Encino

Many times wisdom teeth — the third molars in the very back of your mouth — don't have room to grow properly and cause problems. Erupting wisdom teeth can grow at various angles in the jaw, sometimes even horizontally. In some cases, a wisdom tooth partially emerges through the gums. Other times, it remains completely hidden. Wisdom teeth that aren't able to emerge normally become impacted, or trapped, within your jaw.
To prevent an impacted tooth, dentists often recommend removing the wisdom teeth before they emerge or grow too large. Many dentists believe it's better to remove the teeth when someone is younger and more likely to recover faster from surgery. This is why many teenagers or young adults have their wisdom teeth extracted before the teeth cause problems and become more firmly rooted in the jaw.
According to the American Dental Association, wisdom teeth removal may be necessary if:

• Wisdom teeth partially emerge through the gums. This increases the chance of a bacterial infection called pericoronitis.
• Unerupted wisdom teeth are expected to grow crooked and damage other teeth.
• A fluid-filled sac (cyst) develops around an unerupted wisdom tooth, which can damage surrounding tissue or bone.

If you'd like more information about wisdom teeth extraction, please make an appointmentor contact our office today.