Woollahra Dental would like to share some information developed by the ADA to provide information on managing and caring for wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth have an uncanny way of erupting at around the same time that people are planning their first overseas adventure. Rather than risking a toothache half way around the world, the ADA recommends getting wisdom teeth assessed prior to any extended travel. Impacted teeth are a common problem experienced with wisdom teeth. Impaction may be due to soft tissues (i.e. gums) continuing to cover part or whole of the wisdom tooth or hard tissues such as other teeth or bone preventing the teeth erupting successfully into the mouth. Teeth that become impacted are generally more likely to cause problems. It is not known why wisdom teeth become impacted but one theory suggests that as our diet has become more refined over time, the teeth in front of the wisdom teeth are surviving longer and not wearing as much. A wisdom tooth that fails to erupt complet