In some cases, the wisdom teeth push against healthy tooth and cause chronic pain and discomfort.

The priority of our dentist, Dr. Le is always to save your natural teeth, but wisdom teeth extraction might be necessary because of an active problem such as pain, swelling, decay or infection, or as a preventative measure to avoid serious problems in the future. If left untreated, a patient could end up with more complicated outcomes, including:

1.  Damage to nearby teeth: Second molars (the teeth directly in front of the wisdom teeth) can be adversely affected by impacted wisdom teeth, resulting in tooth decay (cavities), periodontal disease (gum disease) and possible bone loss.
2.  Disease: Although uncommon, cysts and tumors can occur in the areas surrounding impacted wisdom teeth.
3.  Infection: Bacteria and food can become trapped under the gum tissue, resulting in an infection. The infection can cause considerable pain and danger.

There may be some swelling and sensitivity for a few days which is managed by simply take OTC pain killers as needed. Applying an ice pack can also help reduce any swelling.

Avoid brushing, poking or chewing with the area to allow it to heal and contact the office immediately if the swelling or pain is not reducing within 72hrs.