Why do wisdom teeth need to be removed?
Wisdom teeth symptoms
Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, grow at the back of the mouth. They are the last teeth to develop, and there often isn’t room in the mouth for an extra set of molars. Some patients never experience symptoms associated with wisdom teeth, while others feel pain or discomfort in the mouth. Even if your wisdom teeth are not causing pain, you should still have them removed to prevent future complications from having the chance to arise.
- Red or swollen gums
- Gums that easily bleed
- Jaw pain or swelling
- Ongoing bad breath, indicating an infection
- Difficulty fully opening the mouth
- An unpleasant taste
7x7 Dental Implant & Oral Surgery Specialists has three offices conveniently located in San Francisco, California, to serve our patients. We regularly perform wisdom tooth extractions in a safe and clean environment. With the use of IV sedation, you will rest comfortably during the procedure and wake up when it is over. To schedule an appointment with one of our skilled oral surgeons, please contact us.
Wisdom teeth infections
An impacted wisdom tooth is one that has partially erupted through the gum tissue. Impacted teeth must be addressed because they will never successfully erupt into the dental arch. A portion of the wisdom tooth pokes through the gums. Impacted wisdom teeth are difficult to properly clean, leaving you susceptible to infections, which can lead to the formation of cysts and tumors. Tooth infection can spread to surrounding tissues and other teeth and lead to gum disease or tooth decay.
An infected tooth can be painful and cause an unpleasant taste in your mouth. Even if the wisdom tooth is not infected, it still poses a risk to your nearby teeth because it grows at an angle and can push other teeth out of alignment. To avoid these complications and more, dentists and oral surgeons recommend having wisdom teeth removed as soon as possible. In doing so, you are protecting your future oral health.
Although wisdom teeth may be removed at almost any age, younger patients tend to have easier procedures and recoveries because the wisdom teeth are not fully formed yet. If you've never had your wisdom teeth taken out, we encourage you to contact us for a consultation. We will evaluate your oral health and take 3D scans of your teeth to understand your condition and tailor a treatment plan right for you.
Bank stem cells from wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth contain powerful stem cells that have been used in regenerative medicine. Because these teeth are large and healthy, there is an abundance of stem cells inside of them. After your oral surgeon extracts the wisdom teeth, we can harvest the stem cells and send them to a secured laboratory with Stemodontics®, the leading stem cell banking service. If you become ill or badly injured in the future, your stem cells can be sent to your medical provider to aid in recovery. The decision to bank stem cells from your wisdom teeth today protects your health in the future. Learn more on our stem cell page or enroll in stem cell banking on the Stemodontics website.
Find us in San Francisco, CA
We have three convenient practice locations to serve you in San Francisco, CA—choose from our West Portal office (on W. Portal Avenue), our Stonestown office (on Buckingham Way), or our Van Ness office (on Daniel Burnham Court).