Wisdom teeth are third molars. The first molars usually grow into the mouth at around 6 years of age. The second molars grow in at around age 12. The third molars usually will try to grow in at around age 18 to 20 years. That is the age when people become “wiser”, so third molars gained the nickname, "wisdom teeth." They are just as useful as any other tooth if they grow in properly, have a proper bite relationship, and have healthy gum tissue around them. Unfortunately, this does not always happen.
When wisdom teeth cannot fit into the mouth properly, we call them “impacted”. A dentist must examine a patient's mouth and his or her X-rays to determine improperly growing or impacted teeth. Impacted teeth can result in infection, decay of adjacent teeth, gum disease or formation of a cyst or tumor.
Many dentists recommend removal of impacted wisdom teeth to prevent potential problems. Wisdom tooth extraction involves accessing the tooth through the soft and hard tissue, gently detaching the connective tissue between the tooth and the bone and removing the tooth.
