Frequently, there is not enough room in the jaw for the complete eruption of some or all 3rd molars, also called wisdom teeth.

Removal, or extraction, of a wisdom tooth can involve an incision in the gum to allow the dentist full view of the area and enough room to remove the tooth. Small amounts of bone may need to be removed to expose the crown. The tooth may then need to be sectioned for easy removal.

After the tooth is removed, stitches will be placed to close the incision. A blood clot will form in the empty tooth socket , and within weeks, bone cells will replace the clot with new jaw bone.