Many people know Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons for their removal of wisdom teeth. With their surgical training, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons are indeed experts at extracting wisdom teeth as well as other problem teeth. Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last teeth to erupt in your mouth, typically between the ages of 17 and 25, a time of life that has been called the “Age of Wisdom.”
When they do emerge, most wisdom teeth may grow sideways, partially emerge from the gum tissue, and even remain trapped beneath the gum and bone. Serious problems can develop from partially impacted teeth, such as pain, infection, and crowding of, or damage to, adjacent teeth. For fully impacted teeth, more serious problems can occur when tumors or cysts form around the tooth, resulting in the destruction of the jawbone and healthy teeth. Removal of the offending impacted tooth or teeth usually resolves these problems. Early removal is recommended to avoid such future problems and to decrease the greater risk involved with surgery at an older age.
