Why do Wisdom Teeth need to be removed?
Wisdom teeth symptoms
Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, grow at the back of the mouth. They are the last teeth to develop, and there often isn’t room in the mouth for an extra set of molars. Some patients never experience symptoms associated with wisdom teeth, while others feel pain or discomfort in the mouth. Even if your wisdom teeth are not causing pain, you should still have them removed to prevent future complications from having the chance to arise.
- Red or swollen gums
- Gums that easily bleed
- Jaw pain or swelling
- Ongoing bad breath, indicating an infection
- Difficulty fully opening the mouth
- An unpleasant taste
7x7 Dental Implant & Oral Surgery Specialists has three offices conveniently located in San Francisco, California, to serve our patients. We regularly perform wisdom tooth extractions in a safe and clean environment. With the use of IV sedation, you will rest comfortably during the procedure and wake up when it is over. To schedule an appointment with one of our skilled oral surgeons, please contact us.
Wisdom teeth infections
An impacted wisdom tooth is one that has partially erupted through the gum tissue. Impacted teeth must be addressed because they will never successfully erupt into the dental arch. A portion of the wisdom tooth pokes through the gums. Impacted wisdom teeth are difficult to properly clean, leaving you susceptible to infections, which can lead to the formation of cysts and tumors. Tooth infection can spread to surrounding tissues and other teeth and lead to gum disease or tooth decay.
An infected tooth can be painful and cause an unpleasant taste in your mouth. Even if the wisdom tooth is not infected, it still poses a risk to your nearby teeth because it grows at an angle and can push other teeth out of alignment. To avoid these complications and more, dentists and oral surgeons recommend having wisdom teeth removed as soon as possible. In doing so, you are protecting your future oral health.
Although wisdom teeth may be removed at almost any age, younger patients tend to have easier procedures and recoveries because the wisdom teeth are not fully formed yet. If you've never had your wisdom teeth taken out, we encourage you to contact us for a consultation. We will evaluate your oral health and take 3D scans of your teeth to understand your condition and tailor a treatment plan right for you.
Bank stem cells from wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth contain powerful stem cells that have been used in regenerative medicine. Because these teeth are large and healthy, there is an abundance of stem cells inside of them. After your oral surgeon extracts the wisdom teeth, we can harvest the stem cells and send them to a secured laboratory with Stemodontics®, the leading stem cell banking service. If you become ill or badly injured in the future, your stem cells can be sent to your medical provider to aid in recovery. The decision to bank stem cells from your wisdom teeth today protects your health in the future. Learn more on our stem cell page or enroll in stem cell banking on the Stemodontics website.
Patient Testimonials
Hear from our patients about their experiences with Why do Wisdom Teeth need to be removed and other procedures.
"Hi, my name is Alex, I’m from San Francisco, and I came to see the doctors at 7x7 for dental implants. Immediately upon walking in the door, I knew that I was in the right place. I found the doctors at 7x7 to be very warm and [they] did everything they could to make me comfortable, and I really appreciated that. The staff gave me sort of a play-by-play as to what was going to happen and a treatment path to get my mouth corrected. I’m immensely happy that I had the dental implants done at 7x7. They’ve taken care of me through the whole process and I’ve gotten my teeth back in order. I had a fantastic experience at 7x7, and I would absolutely recommend that anyone go there for any oral surgery needs."
Analise
San Francisco
"Hi, my name is Analise and I live in San Francisco, and I came to 7x7 for a biopsy. When I walked in, everyone was really nice and they made me feel comfortable. Dr. Pat was super kind and confident in what she did. She also was patient with us and answered all our questions and made sure we understood what was going to happen. The staff explained everything to me and made it super easy and everything was super clear about what to do. For my friends and family in San Francisco, I highly recommend the doctors at 7x7."
"Hi, my name is Andrew, and I had a dental implant with Dr. Duncan. When I first came to Dr. Duncan’s office, it was very clean, organized. Dr. Duncan is very personable and came in, just kind of chatted and got to know each other and he was able to balance kind of comforting myself with respect to the procedure and letting me know kind of what was coming and then, you know, just nice conversation. The surgery went absolutely fine, and what was amazing to me is that I didn’t need to call him up for any questions or anything afterwards. I was surprised how easy the recovery went. Dr. Duncan made me feel comfortable and the fact that he explained everything clear, it all went well. I highly recommend 7x7 Oral Surgery."
"Hi, I’m Antonio from San Francisco and I came to 7x7 doctors for [a] bone graft and implants. When I first walked into the office, everyone was very professional. The staff at 7x7 was very welcoming and they also gave me all the information that I needed prior to my initial appointment. The doctors at 7x7 were very, very informative. I felt very comfortable, very confident in what they were telling me. I felt like I was in good hands. The procedure went extremely well. I feel good that I can now eat what I hadn’t been able to eat before. I had a great experience here and I definitely recommend the doctors at 7x7."
"Hi, my name is Angelica, and I am from San Francisco. I came to 7x7 to have my wisdom tooth extracted by Dr. Scharf. When I first came here, I felt very welcomed. The staff was friendly and helpful, and they made me feel comfortable as soon as I got here. Dr. Scharf was professional, personable, and caring. Overall, my experience was amazing. Everything was perfect, and I felt really taken care of. For my friends and family in San Francisco, Daly City, and San Bruno, I highly recommend 7x7 Oral Surgery."
"My name is Arc. I live in Hillsborough. I visited 7x7 for bone grafting and implant. The very first second I visited the office, the staff was both friendly and professional and needless to say that doctor was amazing. Dr. Pat is incredibly professional and kind and caring person. I wish all my doctors were like Dr. Pat. After the surgery, everything was so smooth and so easy. It was amazing. Now I can chew as I want on both sides. It was amazing experience and I would strongly recommend Dr. Pat."
"Hi, my name is Betty from San Francisco. I had a dental implant done by Dr. Scharf. The office here at West Portal is one of the friendliest, most professional offices I’ve ever been to. Everyone is always kind. They’re very efficient. It’s really a pleasure to come here. Before I came for surgery, I was really very nervous. I’d never had a tooth pulled, and I also had never been through the implant procedure before. Dr. Scharf is so professional and so skilled, and the minute he walks into the room, you know that he knows what he’s doing and he makes you feel so much better about the whole process. It worked one hundred percent, and it was a great experience. For my friends and family in Brisbane and Colma, I highly recommend 7x7 Oral Surgery."
"Hi, my name is Brigid, I’m from San Anselmo, and I came to 7x7 to get my wisdom teeth out. When I first walked into 7x7, I had a really good impression of the office. Everyone was super welcoming and very nice. The doctors at 7x7 are very kind. They informed me about everything and I felt like I was very prepared for going into the procedure. The procedure went very well. I healed nicely too. Overall, I had a very good experience at 7x7 and I would definitely recommend it. Out of five stars, I give 7x7 a five-star rating."
"I was referred here by my dentist, and when I came in, the staff was really good with greeting me. They were very timely about my appointment and kind of helped me navigate through my first time at the office, so I was pretty comfortable with the staff. My doctor was really great. He's very personable, very laid back. He made me extremely comfortable. It was a really good procedure. My recovery was really well. They later let me see the X-ray of the implant that he had put in, and it was perfect. It was just straight up. I would absolutely recommend 7x7 Dental Implant & Oral Surgery. Everything went really smooth, and it was a great experience."
Where the Bay Area Finds Better Smiles
For over 40 years, 7x7 Dental Implant & Oral Surgery Specialists has helped San Francisco find healthier and more beautiful smiles. We are proud to serve Bay Area patients with exceptional oral surgery services delivered with compassionate care. With four practice locations, we are able to bring our expertise to the entire city. To learn more about how we can help you achieve your oral health goals, contact our office to schedule a consultation. We look forward to welcoming you soon!