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Wisdom
Teeth
Wisdom teeth are considered "impacted" or unable to
erupt when they have no place to go or grow. They may grow in
sideways (which can destroy your second molar), only partially
come through the gum causing a bacteria trap resulting in recurrent
infections or remain trapped beneath the gum and bone forming
a fluid filled sac (cyst) or tumors that destroy the jaw or
teeth.
Wisdom teeth can be considered not functional if
they are:
- Badly decayed
- Have gum disease
- Cause pain
- Move other teeth out of alignment
- Interfere with your biting
Benefits of early removal of wisdom teeth, around
the age of 16 or 17, can help you to avoid future problems.
At a younger age:
- Tooth roots are not fully developed
- The surrounding bone is softer
- There is less chance of damaging nerves
- There is less surgical risk
- Healing is generally faster
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