Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon - Cardiff, South Wales, United Kingdom

Wisdom teeth (or 3rd molar teeth) generally erupt into the mouth around the ages of 17 to 20. Over 90% of the population do not have enough room in their jawbone for their wisdom teeth to erupt . This causes the teeth to become impacted, which in many cases results in bad breath (halitosis), recurrent pain, facial swelling and limited mouth opening. In severe cases wisdom teeth infections may be life threatening.

Treatment of Wisdom Teeth

An impacted wisdom tooth is often encased in jaw bone, or may also be prevented from eruption by an adjacent tooth. Although some wisdom teeth may be easily removed by your dentist, if the procedure is likely to involve surgery, it is best removed by a specialist Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon.

Can I leave my Wisdom Teeth?

Leaving impacted teeth in your jaw can lead to painful infections. Cysts or tumours may form around the impacted tooth, which can then lead to damage of the surrounding jawbone, adjacent teeth, and sensory nerves.