Although in dentistry our primary effort is usually made to save teeth, occasionally teeth need to be extracted. Teeth that are so badly broken down that they cannot be fixed fall in this category. In certain instances, we may recommend the removal of your wisdom teeth to prevent future problems. Other teeth may need to be removed for orthodontic reasons (when Invisalign or braces are needed to straighten the teeth and correct the bite).
Wisdom teeth that are partially erupted may result in repeated problems occurring in the gum surrounding them. This is a condition known as pericoronitis and can be very painful. We normally recommend these teeth be extracted. Sometimes wisdom teeth may be impacted or stuck in bone or within the gums. Depending on their orientation, these teeth may or may not need to be extracted.