Wisdom teeth can cause pain, infection, inflammation of the surrounding gum, a higher risk of tooth decay and gum disease in the adjacent area because they are the last teeth to erupt into the mouth. There is commonly either not enough room for them so they impact other teeth, or they are so far back that they are difficult to clean.
When food gets trapped it may initially cause chronic bad breath but can eventually result in emergency hospital admission to treat infection as the infection can track in facial tissue spaces around the airway which can be life threatening.
As wisdom teeth are not necessary for full chewing function, their presence often does more harm than good and the extraction of third molars is one of the most common oral surgery procedures. It is also removed to save the seond molar in front as its not uncommon to develop very deep decay on the root of the second molar resulting in ultimately loosing this tooth as well.
Dr Benigni will be happy to see you for a consultaion and assess your wisdom teeth. Other procedures carried out in oral surgery include the extraction of broken roots which are still embedded in the jawbone and the removal of cysts or other growths from the jaws as well as bone augmentation and preservation prior to Implant placement surgery.
If your wisdom tooth become symptomatic and the decision is taken to surgically remove an impacted third molar then referral to an oral surgeon is usually required.
Patients can undergo most types of oral surgery comfortably under local anaesthetic.