If you are asking this question, chances are your wisdom teeth are giving you some trouble.  Wisdom teeth are your third molars.  They are the last teeth to come in and are located the farthest back in your mouth.  Occasionally, wisdom teeth will erupt with absolutely no pain, issues or cause for concern. Others will experience unpleasant symptoms and will want or need to have their wisdom teeth extracted.  How do you know?

• Pain in the jawbone
• Pain that radiates from ear, jaw and head
• Tooth pain caused by wisdom teeth growing sideways and putting pressure on adjacent teeth
• Swelling and inflammation indicating infection
• Sensitivity in the third molar that might be caused by cavities
• Bad breath which may indicate infection
• Bad breath caused by inability to clean and floss properly
• Sinus pain and pressure caused by third molars pressing up against the sinuses
• Shifting teeth
• Formation of cysts around the third molar

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, we encourage you to consult with your dentist for an exam and x-ray.  If the wisdom teeth appear to be problematic, your dentist will refer you to an oral surgeon that is uniquely qualified to handle the surgical extraction of wisdom teeth and the administration of IV anesthesia.

For more information about wisdom teeth or the oral surgeons at Northwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, please visit www.texasoralsurgery.com.