Information for the public about wisdom tooth removal.
The information covers:
- Introduction
- Why it should be done
- How it is performed
- Recovery
- Complications of wisdom tooth removal
The wisdom teeth, or third molars, grow at the back of your gums and are the last teeth to come through. Most people have four wisdom teeth, one in each corner.
Wisdom teeth usually grow through the gums during the late teens or early twenties. By this time, the other 28 adult teeth are usually in place so there isn’t always enough room in the mouth for the wisdom teeth to grow properly.
Due to the lack of space, the wisdom teeth can sometimes emerge at an angle or get stuck and only emerge partially. Wisdom teeth that grow through in this way are known as impacted.