Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to develop in your jaws, often there is not enough space for them to erupt into the correct position like the other teeth in your mouth. They can vary in their position. Please see the image below for their different positions. Some may not erupt fully because they be impacted against another tooth or may be part covered by the gums (oral mucosa) A combination of this varied position, impaction, being partially erupted and other causes may create issues. You may not be aware that these are occurring.

One of the most common reasons you have been referred is that you’ve been having problems with your wisdom teeth. This may be due to pain, swelling or infection to the gum covering the wisdom tooth, also known pericoronitis. The wisdom tooth may also be decayed. You may also be getting food stuck around your wisdom teeth.

Some wisdom teeth may have no symptoms but there may be a problem developing or there is high risk of a problem developing that you may be unaware of. There is strong evidence to show that wisdom teeth that are mesially or horizontally positioned that have not erupted fully have a high risk of decay occurring within the wisdom tooth and also to the tooth in front. If left alone the decay may get to the extent that you may develop pain from both teeth. If the tooth in front is decayed it will need to be repaired by the Dentist after the wisdom tooth has been extracted.

The decay may get to the extent that the tooth in front has to be removed as well. The same may occur to the bone support around these teeth (periodontal disease). Sometimes cysts can form around the wisdom tooth. A cyst occurs when fluid fills the sack that normally surrounds a developing wisdom tooth and can slowly increase in size.

If you have a medical issue that requires you to start medicines such as immunosuppressants or medicines that affect the bone it is advisable to have an assessment of your teeth including your wisdom teeth before you start these medicines. If you were to have a tooth extracted while on these medicines this may slow down healing of a tooth socket. In rare cases the tooth socket may not heal at all. The assessment may recommend the need to remove teeth that are of a poor prognosis including your wisdom teeth.

If you are intending to travel abroad for a long length of time and access to a dentist or a specialist is difficult the consideration may be given about having treatment for your wisdom teeth and other teeth before you leave.