James G. Agnew, DMD

864-578-7017

officedragnew@thesmilebuilders.com

Quick Reference

Should My Wisdom Teeth Be Extracted?

Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, are the last teeth to develop. If there's room for them, they usually start to appear in the late teens or early twenties, and that's when problems can begin.

An impacted wisdom tooth may push on other teeth. It can be excruciatingly painful when a wisdom tooth that's partially erupted becomes infected. This is a common dental emergency and can cause pain for days, even after antibiotics are started.

A misaligned tooth can also cause cavities.
This x-ray shows a wisdom tooth coming in sideways and causing a cavity in the second molar.

Wisdom teeth are nearly impossible to keep free of plaque. Plaque causes decay, as well as periodontal disease, a serious condition which can start near the wisdom teeth and spread throughout the mouth.

Sometimes cysts form around impacted wisdom teeth; they can destroy a tremendous amount of bone before they're even noticed.

This dark area is a cyst that required surgery to repair. With time, the roots of wisdom teeth may grow around a nerve in the jaw, which can be damaged during the extraction. This could leave your lip and chin permanently numb.

Because of these many serious potential problems, it's usually better to remove wisdom teeth early, even before they break through the gums.

There are many advantages to removing wisdom teeth in the mid-teen years:

  • The roots of the teeth are still short.

  • There's still a space around them, making them easier to remove.

  • There's less risk of nerve damage.

  • Bone will fill in better behind the second molar.


    • All of this adds up to less pain and faster, easier healing.