Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Springfield, Holyoke, Longmeadow, and Wilbraham, MA Dentistry

The chewing teeth in the back of your mouth are called molars. We have two in each of the four quadrants (upper, lower, left and right). The third set is called your wisdom teeth. These are the last teeth to form, usually beginning around age nine, and they develop in the bones of the upper and lower jaws.

These four wisdom teeth can present serious dental problems if they are misaligned in your jaw or if they become impacted and cannot emerge. At Baystate Dental, our trained dentists are experienced in wisdom teeth extraction to protect your other teeth and keep you free of dental pain.

The Problems with Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth form in a small hollow (crypt) that develops inside the bone of the upper and lower jaws. The crown develops first and is usually completed by age 14. As the root develops, the wisdom teeth begin to move slowly through the bone toward the mouth.

By age 16, the jaws have reached their adult size. It can then be determined whether there will be enough room for the wisdom teeth to erupt into the mouth normally. If there is not enough room, they will remain trapped in the jaw bone, or “impacted.”

Impacted teeth can take many positions in the bone as they attempt to find a pathway that will allow them to erupt successfully. Sometimes part of the wisdom tooth shows in the mouth. This tooth is still impacted, since part of the biting surface of the tooth is covered by bone or gum tissue.

Problems with Impacted Wisdom Teeth

If left untreated, impacted wisdom teeth can become infected as mouth bacteria spread under the gum tissue. This will usually cause pain in the back of the jaws, sore gums, and jaw stiffness.

If nothing is done, complications can then arise:

• Jaw bone destruction or weakness, possibly leading to fractures
• Constant pressure on the adjacent molars
• Tooth decay if the impacted wisdom tooth is partially erupted
• Tooth loss of the neighboring, otherwise healthy molar teeth
• Gum disease
• Cysts and tumors around the impacted wisdom tooth

Advantages of Removing Impacted Wisdom Teeth Early

Impacted wisdom teeth, or wisdom teeth that show signs of becoming impacted, should be removed as soon as possible. Since the jaws have attained the majority of their adult size by age 16, removal of impacted wisdom teeth at this age has several distinct advantages:

• The roots are seldom fully formed, even though the tooth has moved enough become impacted
• Removing an impacted wisdom tooth before the roots are fully formed is easier and less traumatic
• The bone surrounding the impacted tooth is more pliable
• You can heal more rapidly and easily at that age

If you are wanting to straighten your teeth with braces, we may request that wisdom teeth be removed first. They may interfere with straightening the other teeth.

How Impacted Wisdom Teeth are Removed

Historically, people having impacted wisdom teeth removed were admitted to their local hospital, taken to the operating room and given general anesthesia. Now you can usually have wisdom teeth removed right in our comfortable office. We offer sedation dentistry to give you optimum comfort during the surgery.

If a wisdom tooth is fully visible in your mouth, it can be removed fairly quickly and easily. An impacted wisdom tooth requires an incision in the gum line to remove both the tooth and any bone overlying it. The incision is closed and you will be instructed on the proper ways to care for your mouth during the recovery period, which may last several weeks.

Everyone experiences different stages of development in their wisdom teeth. With the aid of X-rays, we can determine your unique growth patterns and determine whether or not wisdom teeth extraction is necessary for your overall dental health.

If you would like to schedule an initial wisdom tooth extraction consultation, please contact our dentists at Baystate Dental serving Holyoke, Wilbraham, Longmeadow, and Springfield, MA.