Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Wisdom teeth are the third molars — the most posterior of the three molars in each quadrant of the adult dentition. They usually erupt (come through the gum) between the late teens and early twenties, and most adults have four, one in each quadrant, although some people have none, fewer, or extra (supernumerary) teeth. When there is not enough space for a wisdom tooth to come through normally it may become stuck, or impacted, and fail to erupt fully. Impacted and partially erupted wisdom teeth can create clinical problems: they may be difficult to keep clean, making them prone to tooth decay, and a partially erupted tooth can allow inflammation and infection of the surrounding gum, a condition called pericoronitis. Wisdom tooth extraction is commonly used to treat or prevent these problems, and impacted wisdom teeth are also sometimes removed as part of orthodontic treatment, on the belief that they push other teeth and cause crowding — although that link is disputed. For some cases, more conservative treatments such as an operculectomy (removing the flap of gum over a partially erupted tooth) may be appropriate instead. The prophylactic removal of impacted wisdom teeth that are free of disease is not universally recommended; some authorities, including the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, advise against it.