Wisdom teeth grow right at the back of the jaw. They begin to appear in adults in their late teenage years or in their early 20s. In some cases they may even appear in their early 30s.

There are several reasons why a wisdom tooth will need to be extracted. The extraction can be simple or may need a minor surgical procedure depending on the condition of the tooth.

A few reasons a wisdom tooth can cause pain and may need to be extracted

When the wisdom tooth erupts there may not be enough space in your jaw for it to fully erupt into place. In this case the wisdom tooth will push the adjoining tooth out of alignment. This can damage your bite and cause pain. The misaligned wisdom tooth can also cause damage to the cheek and the gums and may need to be extracted.

What is an Impacted Wisdom Tooth?

The wisdom tooth sometimes will begin to grow within the gum and this condition is called 'impacted tooth'. An impacted wisdom tooth can cause swelling, infection and pain. Over time an impacted wisdom tooth can have plaque buildup which can then lead to decay. This plaque buildup can lead to irritation in the gums. If left untreated the problem can spread and affect other parts of your gums.

If your wisdom tooth is fully erupted through the gum, then a simple tooth extraction is performed and the wisdom tooth is extracted.

Wisdom Tooth extraction

When the wisdom tooth is impacted, then the procedure will vary depending on the condition of the impacted wisdom tooth and your gums.

Your dentist will take an X-ray to determine the extent of damage before deciding the right course of action. The extraction method will depend on how many tooth roots are under the gum. In most cases the extraction can be done under local anesthesia.

Your dentist will make a small opening by creating a flap of the gum tissue. This will give access to the bone tissue that is covering the impacted tooth. Your dentist will cut the impacted tooth in small bits and remove them through the opening he has created.

Finally, when he is satisfied that all the tooth bits are removed the flap of gum tissue is sutured (stitched) into place. You will then be informed about your follow up visit.