Dental Services

Our Dental Services | Wisdom Teeth | Other Dental Extractions | Other Impacted Teeth | Surgical Orthodontics | Orthodontic Anchorage | Dental Implants | Pre-Prosthetic Surgery | Dental Trauma | Periodontal Bone Grafting

1. Full bony impaction; prophylactically at an early age to prevent possible pathology. These are typical wisdom teeth that are ready to be extracted. Note that the teeth are still completely beneath the bone and the roots are about 1/3rd to 2/3rds formed. There is not enough room in this jaw to fit the wisdom teeth in a healthy way. Note how on the lower jaw, the bone swings up in the back leaving no room for the wisdom teeth.
   16 year old female 50% root formation with inferior alveolar nerve proximity (root is close to the nerve). There is not enough room for these teeth to fit in a healthy way so they should be removed. At the age of 16 her jaw growth is done, so these teeth will never fit. The best time to get them out is now before the roots grow any longer
2. Partially erupted; impacted on tooth mesioangular (infection, caries, periodontitis risk)
3. Partially erupted; impacted into ramus distoangular (infection, caries, periodontitis risk)
4. Partially erupted; judged to not fit into arch (high potential for impaction in ramus even if fully erupted to occlusal plane) (infection, caries, periodontitis risk)
5. Fully erupted to occlusal plane; impacted in ramus (Pericoronitis, infection risk)
6. Potential damage to second molars; caries (e.g.; Mesioangular, difficult to cleanse, etc.)
7. Potential damage to second molars; periodontal defect (as above + high gingival margin)
8. Potential damage to second molars; resorption of second molar (impacted on root near apex)
9. Planned orthodontics; eliminated existing crowding (3rds)
10. Avoid late crowding caused by third molars (controversial).
11. Cyst/enlarged follicle or tumor associated with tooth
12. Prior to Radiation Therapy
13. Under a prosthetic appliance
14. Unexplained pain near a third molar
15. Planned Orthognathic surgery; involving the area of impaction or in the case of mandibular or maxillary setback the tooth may interfere with other structures. i.e. ramus or coronoid process
16. Periodontitis, attachment loss (of third or second molar)
17. Caries
    40 year old male erupted wisdom teeth, perio-pockets, periodontal disease. A study completed in 2002 found that not only are we doing the right thing by extracting wisdom teeth that appear to not fit in the jaw in a healthy way, but we should be extracting wisdom teeth that appear to have room to fit in the jaws. This is because wisdom teeth more often than other teeth develop caries (cavities) and periodontal disease (gum disease). These wisdom teeth have even had caries restored with amalgam fillings.
18. Pericoronitis or acute infection
19. Prevention of jaw fracture in persons involved in contact sports
20. Fracture involving alveolus of the third molar or trauma that dislodges it
21. Malopposed/malocclusion (e.g. over-eruption, crossbite, hyperocclusion)
22. No opposing tooth (Prophylactic for over-eruption and other pathology)
23. Supernumeraries i.e. 4th molars