Advanced Dental Care

Wisdom Teeth Removal

Your third molars, commonly known as your wisdom teeth, are typically the last teeth to erupt in your mouth.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Shawn E. Anderson, DDS · View credentials
Willow Dental Group, Fresno · Last reviewed July 2026

When

Impacted or crowding

Comfort

Anesthetic & sedation

Recovery

A few days to a week

Age

Often late teens/20s

Your third molars, commonly known as your wisdom teeth, are typically the last teeth to erupt in your mouth. If healthy and functional your wisdom teeth can be useful. However, there are also reasons behind why you may need to consider removing your wisdom teeth. In some cases your wisdom teeth are in fact healthy, but because of orthodontic treatment they need to be removed.

In other cases, your wisdom teeth can become impacted or only partially erupt through the gum in a misalignment. When impacted or partially impacted, your wisdom teeth can cause swelling, pain and even infection of the surrounding gum. They can also put pressure on the adjacent teeth, which can result in permanent damage to these otherwise healthy teeth and their surrounding bone. Sometimes, impacted or partially impacted wisdom teeth can also lead to the formation of cysts, and in worse case scenarios even tumors, which could potentially destroy an entire section of your jaw.

Lastly a fully erupted wisdom tooth needs to be removed because they are very hard to clean and can become severely decayed. So for these reasons sometimes the smart move is to have your wisdom teeth removed.

Transcript

for many people the best treatment for wisdom teeth is to remove them to prevent future dental problems wisdom teeth or third MERS are the last teeth to develop usually in the late teens or early 20s but for many people there isn't enough room in the jaw for wisdom teeth to grow in properly this can cause serious problems such as pain infection tooth decay periodontal disease and cysts in the Jawbone it can be very painful when a partially erupted wisdom tooth and the surrounding gums become infected an impacted wisdom tooth can also cause tooth decay this x-ray shows a wisdom tooth coming in sideways and causing a cavity in the second Moler this happens because wisdom teeth are nearly impossible to keep free of Decay causing plaque you can easily see the plaque here because we've stained it with red dye plaque also causes periodontal disease which may start near the wisdom teeth and spread throughout the mouth lastly cysts form sometimes around an impacted wisdom tooth and they can destroy a tremendous amount of bone before they're noticed it's often better to remove wisdom teeth early while their roots are still small even before the teeth have come in through the gums this often allows for easier removal fewer complications and faster healing to determine if extracting wisdom teeth is right for your situation we'll do a thorough examination which usually includes x-rays extracting wisdom teeth is often the best choice for maintaining a healthy mouth and smile

The Treatment
Whether your Dentist or our Oral Surgeon Specialist is performing the extraction the procedure is the same. First, a local anesthetic is given to make the procedure more comfortable. In some cases your doctor may elect to administer nitrous oxide gas in addition to the anesthetic or use a general anesthetic to put you under entirely.

Once the area is numb, the extraction begins. A dental instrument called an elevator is used to wiggle the tooth in its socket. After the tooth is loosened it is removed using forceps or in some more complicated cases a surgical hand piece is also used to assist with the removal of the tooth.

Extraction’s Possible Complications
Like most other procedures, tooth extraction is not free of possible complications. You should be aware that there is a slight chance of infection, tenderness, prolonged bleeding, dry socket and loosening of neighboring teeth or their fillings or crowns.

Another rare possibility is of an upper tooth getting displaced into the sinus. Lastly, jaw fracture and temporary or permanent numbness is also very rare possibilities.

When Should I Remove My Wisdom Tooth?
When should you have your wisdom teeth removed? There is no single right answer for everyone; however, if your dentist has advised you that your wisdom teeth look potentially problematic it’s generally best to remove them sooner rather than later.

This advice is based on the fact that the younger you are, the faster you heal. The likeliness of lingering numbness, jaw fracture or other complications also increases with age. Lastly, the longer you leave a troublesome wisdom tooth in your mouth, the longer it has to cause further problems in the future.

Why choose Wisdom Teeth Removal at Willow Dental Group

Prevent future problems

Removing wisdom teeth avoids pain and crowding.

Comfortable procedure

Anesthetic and sedation options keep you at ease.

Protect other teeth

Prevents shifting and damage to neighbors.

Smooth recovery

Clear aftercare guidance for easy healing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wisdom Teeth Removal FAQs

Why do wisdom teeth need to be removed?

Wisdom teeth often lack room to erupt properly and can become impacted, crowd other teeth, or cause pain and infection. Removing them prevents these problems.

Is wisdom teeth removal painful?

The procedure is done with anesthetic and sedation options for your comfort, so you should not feel pain during it. Some swelling and soreness afterward is normal and manageable.

What is recovery like after wisdom teeth removal?

Most people recover within a few days to a week. Rest, cold compresses, soft foods and following your aftercare instructions help you heal comfortably.

At what age should wisdom teeth be removed?

Wisdom teeth are often removed in the late teens or early twenties, when the roots are not fully formed and recovery tends to be easier, but they can be removed later when needed.

Serving Fresno & Clovis

Wisdom Teeth Removal in Fresno, CA

Willow Dental Group provides wisdom teeth removal for patients across Fresno, Clovis and the Central Valley. Schedule your visit at our Fresno dental office — new patients are always welcome.