Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Impacted wisdom teeth are a common reason for oral surgery. If a wisdom tooth is stuck under the skin or does not have enough room to break through the gum, it is considered impacted. Dentists typically discover impacted wisdom teeth by examining a simple x-ray of the mouth. The dentist will usually recommend that the tooth, or teeth, be removed surgically. Surgery to remove impacted wisdom teeth is usually an outpatient procedure and you can go home the same day. As part of the procedure, your doctor may use anesthetic drugs to induce anesthesia. Most people resume normal activities a few days after surgery. Left alone, impacted wisdom teeth can result in pain or damage to other teeth. That is why early diagnosis and treatment is so important.