Wise Advice on Wisdom Teeth
  Fall 2008

Still have your wisdom teeth? Even if they're not bothering you, it may not be the wisest decision to keep them.

Many times a dentist will recommend removing wisdom teeth, despite the fact you're not feeling any discomfort at all. While this may seem suspicious, there are sound reasons a dentist may suggest this.

Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, typically erupt once all other teeth are in place and there is no more room in your mouth to accommodate four more back teeth. If they can't erupt fully, these extra teeth grow under the gums, leaning into the roots of the existing teeth. The wisdom teeth then become stuck, or impacted, and not only cannot erupt into a proper position in the mouth, but can also damage the roots of the already-erupted permanent teeth. Having these extra teeth trapped under your gums can result in infection, the formation of cysts, and gum disease.

Despite all this action under the gums, most people usually do not realize their wisdom teeth are impacted until their dentist discovers so on an x-ray. At this point, the dentist may recommend extracting the teeth before they become more difficult to remove and start causing serious dental issues. Ideally, this is when the patient is in his late teens or early twenties, as extractions tend to become more difficult as the patient grows older.

If you still have your wisdom teeth, please ask us about their health and positioning. It's wise to be informed of any possible problems sooner rather than later.

© Market Connections Inc

Office Hours

Mon.: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Tues.: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Wed.: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thurs.: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Our Location

121 Congressional Lane
Suite 501
Rockville, MD 20852
Conveniently Located
Near the Twinbrook
Metro Station


CLICK TO VIEW A MAP