Wisdom Teeth Extractions

Wisdom teeth are the final set of molars that grow in the back a person’s mouth. They are technically called ‘the third molars’ because they appear after the second molars have appeared in the mouth.

Wisdom teeth can be a valuable asset if they grow vertically and are aligned properly. However, these teeth have been know to grow diagonally and horizontally, thus causing problems for their owners. This uneven growing can cause a myriad of problems including crowding, damage to the adjacent second molars and can even impact the jawbone itself. Additionally, wisdom teeth sometimes do not fully erupt through the gum and are termed as ‘impacted’.

Definition of impacted wisdom teeth

A tooth is said to become impacted when there is a lack of space in the dental arch and its growth is affected by gum, bone or another tooth. There are different kinds of impaction. ‘Mesioangular’ impaction occurs when the tooth grows forward towards the front of the mouth. ‘Vertical’ impaction is when the formed wisdom tooth does not fully erupt through the gum. ‘Horizontal’ impaction, which is not as common as the other two forms of impaction, occurs when the tooth is angled sideways, growing into the roots of the second molar.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

Impacted wisdom teeth are usually removed because of the problems they are causing or because of the problems that may arise if they remain in the mouth. In many cases, damage caused by wisdom teeth is not visible on the surface. Your South Calgary Periodontist will usually take full X-rays of the mouth to see what is going on underneath the gum … and to determine what type of extraction may be required.

At South Calgary Periodontal Group, we are always welcoming new patients.
Call us at (403) 278-5446 to book your Wisdom Teeth Extraction consultation appointment today!