When Wisdom Teeth Have to be Extracted

Wisdom teeth erupt when most people reach late adolescence or early adulthood. Although wisdom teeth sometimes erupt properly, they often do so incorrectly and cause a wide range of problems. Our dentist in Torrance usually recommends extracting wisdom teeth before they erupt or shortly afterwards to avoid serious health consequences.

Problems Caused by Wisdom Teeth

If wisdom teeth are misaligned, they can cause other teeth to shift. Wisdom teeth are also difficult to clean, especially if they erupt only partially, increasing risks of infection and tooth decay. Pain, swelling, damage to the jaw bone and nerves and increased risks of systemic infections are other potential complications of poorly erupted wisdom teeth.

Extraction of Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth can be extracted like other teeth when they have erupted completely, but extraction is more complicated when partial eruption or impaction has occurred. In these cases, our expert in wisdom teeth extraction in Torrance makes an incision in the gums before extracting the tooth in pieces. This is performed under local or general anesthesia depending on the health and preferences of the patient. Nitrous oxide and oral or intravenous sedatives may be used. If patients choose to receive sedation, they must have transportation afterwards because they cannot safely drive.

Individual cases vary, so patients should schedule a consultation with our dentist in Torrance to determine whether extraction is necessary and learn about available options.

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