Wisdom teeth are known as third molars in dentistry. They are the last teeth to erupt in the mouth.

When they align properly, and gum tissue is healthy, they do not have to be removed. Unfortunately, this does not generally happen. The extraction of wisdom teeth is necessary when they are prevented from properly erupting within the mouth. They may grow sideways, partially emerge from the gum, even remain trapped beneath the gum and bone. These poorly positioned impacted teeth can cause many problems. When they are partially erupted, cleaning around the tooth becomes difficult causing food lodgment and bacteria to grow. This will eventually cause an infection. The result is swelling, stiffness, pain and illness. The pressure from the erupting wisdom tooth may move other teeth and disrupt the orthodontic or natural alignment of teeth. A tumor or cyst may also form around the wisdom tooth resulting in destruction of jaw bone and surrounding teeth. Early removal is recommended to avoid such future problems.

In considering wisdom tooth extractions and the risks of doing surgery, you should appreciate that though this risk is relatively small, it is not absolutely zero. There are 'standard risks' associated with any type of surgery that include the normal pain, swelling, bruising, bleeding, and infection. There are also other specific risks associated with wisdom tooth surgery and these include being left with a numb lip, chin, or tongue (permanently or temporarily), or a problem with the sinus in the upper jaw. These risks, however, are very uncommon and some even quite rare. Your oral and maxillofacial surgeon will discuss all the risks with you on an individual basis.

Bite on gauze for 30 minutes to stop any bleeding. If bleeding continues, place another gauze and continue to apply pressure.

Do maintain a soft diet for the remainder of the day, things like warm soup, ice cream, milk shakes (remember no straws), etc.

Moderate discomfort and swelling occur with most oral surgery procedures. They usually begin within the first 12 hours following the surgery and start to decrease after 48 hours. The amount of discomfort and swelling is unpredictable.