The wisdom tooth is the last tooth to erupt into the mouth. When it erupts, there's not enough room in the mouth for it to come in straight. It's also called a third molar and most humans have four, one at each of the ends of the mouth. Most patients require wisdom tooth removal in their teens to avoid problems. Humans have less room in their mouths now compared to our ancient ancestors who ate natural unprocessed foods and worked hard chewing. This exercise caused the mouth to grow larger than it is today.

          Because of the limited space, a wisdom tooth can grow sideways or become trapped under the gums. When it partially erupts in the mouth, it can form a pouch that traps food. The food can cause tooth decay and the molar in front can also be damaged from decay. If the gums become infected, they can cause wisdom tooth swelling, wisdom tooth pain and bad breath. When this happens, it's important to have a wisdom tooth extraction. If the infection is untreated, it can continue and cause facial swelling that prevents the mouth from opening. In most cases, the tooth infection is controlled with antibiotics for 3 to 7 days before the tooth can be removed. With the infection is gone, there's no longer any wisdom tooth pain and many patients don't return.

         The pressure from a wisdom tooth trying to get into the mouth can cause the rest of the teeth to move out of place. This is why most orthodontic patients have them removed after braces. Early tooth extraction may even avoid orthodontics. When a third molar is trapped inside the jaw, a cyst can form. Dental cysts can grow and push teeth out of the way amd in some cases, a cyst can form a tumor. Avoiding wisdom tooth complications is a good reason for early removal especially since they tend to be the number one cause of dental emergency problems.

          The Atlanta Dental Group PC provides our patients with most oral surgery services including routine extractions and wisdom tooth removal. Most wisdom tooth surgery procedures go well, take less than an hour and are done in our office. Fortunately, a wisdom tooth dry socket is rare. Dr. Padolsky performs most of the oral surgery and would be happy to consult with you about any dental problem you have. Out group also provides comprehensive dental services at a conveniently located Midtown/Buckhead office. To schedule a consultation with our senior Atlanta Dentist, Dr Mark Allan Padolsky, call 404-874-7428