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Clear Lake Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
17448 Highway 3, Suite 170 • Webster, Texas 77598-4139 • Phone: 281-338-7700 • Fax: 281-338-7703
Most people have four wisdom teeth(third molars), which are typically the last teeth to come in. Wisdom teeth begin to develop in your pre-teen years and usually come in when you are in your late teens or early twenties, when your jawbone reaches its adult size. In many cases, there is not enough room for the teeth to fully erupt. There are many conditions associated with wisdom teeth as they try to erupt. Such conditions may be infections, crowding or damage to the adjacent teeth. More serious complications can occur when a cyst is associated with the teeth. Enlargement of a cyst can cause damage to the adjacent teeth and jawbone, further complicating the removal. Regular dental check-ups and x-rays can determine the condition of your wisdom teeth. As a rule, early removal is generally recommended rather than waiting until the teeth become symptomatic (painful) or cause damage to the adjacent teeth.
A panorex x-ray is taken when examining wisdom teeth. This type of x-ray gives us a panoramic view of the upper and lower jaws, which allows us to determine the position of the wisdom teeth. The term impaction means that the tooth has failed to emerge or fully break through the gum tissue in its expected position. Wisdom teeth can develop in different stages and position of impactions. Impacted wisdom teeth can grow in different directions depending on the size of the jaw. When this happens the teeth become trapped in the bone and develop in aberrant (abnormal) positions.
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| Mesioangular | Vertical | Horizontal | Distoangular |
| Position | Position | Position | Position |
Wisdom teeth that are impacted have been shown in multiple studies to be associated with a higher risk of becoming symptomatic. Other pathological conditions such as infection or development of cysts or tumors can occur. Some patients will not experience any symptoms at all, and in some cases not all impacted wisdom teeth have to be removed. Regardless of the size of your jaw or how much room you have, over time, as your wisdom teeth begin to develop they become more firmly anchored in your jaw and the jawbone becomes more dense (solid). Therefore, the older you are the more difficult the removal. The condition of an individual’s wisdom teeth and degree of surgery required for their removal can vary greatly from one person to the next.
Other problems with wisdom teeth:
| Pericoronitis(gum disease): Pericoronitis is the most common problem associated with wisdom teeth. Pericoronitis is a localized infection. As the wisdom tooth tries to break through the soft tissue, food and bacteria can get trapped under the flap of gum tissue that can result in pain and swelling of the face and gum tissue. |
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| Decay(cavity): Because the wisdom teeth are located in the very back of the mouth, access is limited making it difficult to keep the teeth clean. If the tooth is not fully erupted (emerged), cavity–causing bacteria caused by trapped food can lead to decay and could possibly involve the second molar (adjacent tooth). | |
| Crowding(not enough room): Due to the lack of space for wisdom teeth to erupt, pressure can lead to crowding and can cause displacement of the adjacent teeth. This has always been a concern for patients that have had orthodontic (braces) treatment. | |
| Malposed(abnormal position): A wisdom tooth that grows towards the cheek can irritate nearby tissue. If an erupted tooth is crooked, it may be hard to clean and can even make it difficult to bite down. | |
| Cyst Formation: A cyst is a cavity (hole) that is surrounded by a wall or capsule. Some cysts can be of an inflammatory nature or developmental. A cyst can involve the bone or soft tissue. An x-ray will provide diagnostic information about the location and extent of the cyst. In some rare cases, some cysts can form tumors. The necessary treatment is a biopsy which can be excisional (complete removal) or incisional (partial removal). To confirm the diagnosis, the specimen is submitted to a pathologist. Some cysts may be recurrent; therefore,follow-up x-rays are usually recommended every 6-12 months. |
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Welcome - Dr. Holcomb - General Information - Financial Information - How to Contact our Office - Directions to our Office - Information about our Specialty - Specialty Procedures - Patient Forms - HIPPA Privacy Notice - Pre-Operative Instructions - Post-Operative Instructions - Site Disclaimer - Links