The wisdom teeth appear in the oral cavity when there is supposed to be enough space for them, which typically occurs between the ages of 17 to 25. However, the space available is not always optimal, which often means that they grow at the wrong angle, or they remain impacted or semi-impacted (their eruption hasn't happened, or only half done). This is why it is recommended to extract wisdom teeth at the end of adolescence in problematic cases in order to prevent problems from developing. Also, the roots are not yet fully developed at this age, making extraction easier.

Although it is routine procedure, this can cause some adolescents and/or adults to be nervous. If this is the case, it is important to let the team at Centre Dentaire NP know so that we can make you as comfortable as possible.

If the wisdom teeth have not yet erupted or been extracted, several problems can develop:

> Dental cavities: as these teeth are found towards the back of our oral cavity, it becomes very difficult to clean them well. The risk of cavities increases more-so when they are semi-erupted. This is because the bacteria can easily enter and stay underneath the gum and attack the root or its neighboring tooth.
> Infections and abscesses: bacteria can attack the gums and tissues surrounding the tooth causing infection or even an abscess. This bacteria can spread to tissues, bone, and other periodontal components.
> Cysts and tumors: an increased exposure to bacteria and recurrent infections can facilitate the development of a cyst or tumor, which are sometimes cancerous.