Wisdom Teeth

Adults have up to 32 teeth, of which four are wisdom teeth and these are the last to come through the gum. They are the situated at the extreme end of the jaw and usually appear between the ages of 17 and 25 although sometimes they can appear in later years also.
The dentist may also recommend extraction to deal with wisdom teeth that are causing problems. These teeth can cause various dental problems such as:-
- Including overcrowding of the existing teeth and impaction (the wisdom tooth grows at an angle and pushes into the adjacent molar or the gum).

- The teeth are not able to fully erupt through the gum and are causing an infection in the surrounding tissue; this is known as Pericoronitis.
* There is decay present - wisdom teeth will often decay as it is very difficult to clean them as thoroughly as the other teeth.
Following the removal of wisdom teeth, there is likely to be some discomfort. However, this will vary depending on how difficult it was to remove the tooth; it is not uncommon to experience some swelling for a few days. The dentist will advise on how best to reduce this discomfort and may recommend pain killers. A further dental appointment will be necessary for the dentist to check the healing process and remove any stitches if any.