Wisdom teeth are the molars that erupt in the far back areas of the mouth on both the upper and lower jaws. They’re called wisdom teeth because they don’t come in until later in life. Most people begin to notice them between the ages of 17 to 21. If there is plenty of room for the molars to erupt, and the molars are in the right alignment, then they shouldn’t pose a problem. Otherwise, patients can expect to visit a dental office near Park Ridge to get them extracted.

Watch this video to find out about the problems that wisdom teeth can cause. If these molars don’t have enough space or if they become trapped underneath the gum line, they are called impacted wisdom teeth. Impacted teeth can be painful and may lead to an oral abscess. Since they’re difficult to keep clean, patients with impacted wisdom teeth are also at a higher risk of tooth decay and gum disease.