What are Wisdom teeth or third molars?

"Wisdom teeth" are molars in the back of the mouth. Molars are used for chewing and crushing the food prior to swallowing as compared to the front teeth which are typically used for cutting or biting into foods. Typically most people will have first, second, and third molars.

Third molars also called "wisdom teeth", erupt behind the second molars provided there is sufficient room for them and they are aligned properly. This usually happens between the ages of 15 and 25 in most individuals. Most people will have four wisdom teeth, one in each quadrant of the jaw, ie: upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right.

What is an "impacted third molar" and why is it painful? What are the option to remove these painful third molars?

In dental talk "impacted" means that a tooth has failed to emerge fully into its expected position. There are various reasons for this the main being inadequate room in the jaw or an expected angulation of the tooth resulting in it being impeded from full eruption into the jaw. When the third molar either partially emerges or is misaligned and starts pressing against the adjacent second molar it can result in several complications. The main amongst these are lack of proper oral hygiene in that area due to inaccessibility resulting in cavities, decay of adjacent second molar, a bad taste or smell from the mouth or a constant low grade pain from the region. The best options for addressing impacted teeth issues should be discussed with your dentist. If indeed removal of the impacted teeth is recommended, it can be performed under sedation to reduce any anxiety related to the extraction. Under IV sedation, the patient is completely sedated while the surgery is performed and would wake up without any recollection of the procedure at all. Typically oral surgery last for about 30 to 40 minutes per tooth removed.

If you have been diagnosed with a impacted third molar and are looking into the option to have them extracted, please call us at 510-795-7786 and request an appointment. You can come in for an initial free consultation during which we can discuss the procedure and make you comfortable with the process of wisdom teeth extraction. Wisdom teeth extractions are performed under IV sedation.

If you reside in the San Francisco Bay Area, please call us at 510-795-7786 to make an appointment. Our office is located in the East Bay in Fremont, CA.

We are easily accessible from Fremont, Hayward, Union City San Jose Milpitas, Newark , San Leandro and Oakland.