Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are the last set of teeth to erupt, usually doing so in the late teens or early twenties. These are the third set of molars and are located on each side of the upper and lower jaws. Wisdom teeth becomes problematic when they are impacted, misaligned, causes crowding, or there is simply not enough room for them to grow in. When this happens, wisdom tooth extraction becomes necessary.

Wisdom tooth extraction is a surgical procedure that is usually done by your dentist or an oral surgeon. Depending on the complexity of the extraction(s) three types of anesthesia may be used:

• Local anesthesia - you are awake during the procedure
• Sedation anesthesia - you are in a state of sleep, but can still be stimulated by touch or sound
• General anesthesia – you lose consciousness

Recovery time from oral surgery depends on the type of anesthesia used. You will receive a list of instructions regarding your oral care.