We are now offering wisdom tooth removal with a visiting oral surgeon in our practice.
Wisdom teeth, called third molars by dentists, can cause problems because the jaw often doesn’t grow large enough to accommodate them. When wisdom teeth come in without adequate room, it can lead to:
No. If wisdom teeth have room and are going to come in without problems, they do not need to be removed. However, these days most people will likely benefit.
The jaw develops partly in response to chewing. Anthropologists think that early humans spent perhaps half of their waking hours chewing. Modern cooking and processing means we chew a lot less, which means our jaws also don’t grow as large.
Problem wisdom teeth can be easier to deal with if we take care of them sooner. When we extract wisdom teeth before they become problems, we can: