Wisdom Teeth

Your third molars, or “wisdom teeth,” usually appear in the late teens or early twenties. When there is not enough space in the jaw for these developing teeth, this is called impaction. This can lead to crowding of your teeth, misalignment and damage to adjacent teeth, as well possible damage to the jawbone and nearby nerves.

Sometimes the area around an emerging third molar becomes inflamed under the gums and in the jawbone. This causes a sac of liquid to form around the root of the tooth that can get infected. Serious damage to the jawbone, nearby teeth and gums can occur.