Impacted Wisdom Teeth – Roseville, Folsom, & Auburn

Sierra Foothills Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

Third molars are commonly referred to as wisdom teeth. They are usually the last teeth to develop and are located in the back of your mouth, behind your second molars.

Their development is usually completed between the middle teenage years and early twenties, a time traditionally associated with the onset of maturity and the attainment of wisdom.

Wisdom Teeth Presentation

To provide you with a better understanding of wisdom teeth, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to wisdom teeth are discussed.

Wisdom Teeth Presentation

What Is An Impacted Tooth?

Although most people develop and grow 32 permanent adult teeth, many times their jaws are too small to accommodate the four wisdom teeth.

When inadequate space prevents the teeth from erupting they are called impacted. This indicates their inability to erupt into the proper position for chewing and cleaning.

Are your wisdom teeth causing you pain? We can help!

Call us: 916-786-3930
Side-by-side images of a mouth X-ray showing impacted teeth and a digital graphic highlighting impacted teeth

Types Of Impactions

We will need to see you for a consultation to determine if you will benefit from wisdom tooth removal.

A special x-ray of your mouth and jaws (panorex) will be taken to determine if your wisdom teeth are impacted, if there is room for them to erupt, and how difficult it will be to have them removed.

  • Soft Tissue Impaction: There is not enough room to allow the gum tissue to retract for adequate cleaning of the tooth.
  • Partial Bony Impaction: There is enough space to allow the wisdom tooth to partially erupt. However, the tooth cannot function properly in the chewing process, and creates cleaning problems, among others.
  • Complete Bony Impaction: There is NO space for the tooth to erupt. It remains embedded in the jaw bone or if even partially visible requires complex surgical techniques for removal. The impacted wisdom tooth may also be in an unusual position and difficult to remove. This situation can also arise when the shape or size of the jaw bone and other facial structures make removal of this tooth significantly more complex.
A representation of a wisdom tooth impacted by soft tissueSoft Tissue
An example of a wisdom tooth with a partial bony impactionPartial Bony
An illustration of a wisdom tooth completely impacted by boneComplete Bony

Sierra Foothills Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

5 out of 5 stars based on 11 Wisdom Teeth reviews

Patient Review By Caroline S

- Caroline S

5 out of 5 stars on

Patient Review By Gavin L

The entire staff was fantastic. My son had his wisdom teeth extracted and it went smooth. The assistant, Jessica was amazing as well. She went over the post op instructions thoroughly, and Dr. Hill also called me later on to check on Gavin as did Jessica the next day.

- Gavin L

5 out of 5 stars on

Patient Review By Samantha O

Thank you so much to the whole team. Everyone was so nice and got me in when I was in major pain. I would recommend to everyone!

- Samantha O

5 out of 5 stars on

Patient Review By

The office, staff and doctors were just amazing. I will be sending all of my friends and family there

- Anonymous

5 out of 5 stars on

Patient Review By Emma W

My experience at Sierra Foothill Oral Surgery was fantastic from start to finish! When I went in for a wisdom teeth consultation with Dr. Harris, I was immediately impressed with how personable and kind he was. As he explained what he saw in my X-rays and how that would translate into what needed to be done to remove them, he broke it down into (for lack of a better term) "normal English" and made sure I understood what he was talking about. Additionally, he listened to me and noted my verbally articulated concerns and also was aware of when I would seem tense or nervous about something and addressed those non-verbal concerns as well. About a week after my consultation, I went in to have my wisdom teeth removed. I've been blessed with good health, so this was my very first surgery and I was particularly nervous about the IV--needles make me very nervous and the thought of having a needle in me for an extended amount of time was, to be honest, quite terrifying for me. However, when I arrived for my removal, Dr. Harris remembered my anxiety without any prompting from me, and helped distract and make me feel comfortable as the IV was put in. I was also impressed as I heard a voice from behind me introduce herself as Nurse Michelle and explain how she would be helping the doctor. I felt much more at ease knowing both people in the room by name and how they were going to be helping me. When I came out of the anesthesia, Nurse Michelle was very gentle and kind and helped me walk to the recovery room as well as helped my mom walk me to the car. Overall, throughout my whole experience, I felt that I was surrounded by people who cared about me and understood my needs and anxieties and went the extra mile to make me feel as comfortable as possible. A few hours after my surgery, Dr. Harris himself called me and asked about how I was doing and how well I was recovering. Again, over and over I just felt like everyone went the extra mile to be personable, go the extra mile, and give me the best experience possible. I most certainly will be referring Dr. Harris and Sierra Foothill Oral Surgery to both friends and family!

- Emma W

5 out of 5 stars on

Patient Review By Rex C

You won't regret it!! Best surgeon and dental staff period!!

- Rex C

5 out of 5 stars on

Patient Review By Claire B

Ran behind schedule which was annoying, but it's a doctor's office so that's inevitable

- Claire B

4 out of 5 stars on

Patient Review By Amy C

Dr. Liberty was fantastic! Super nice and helpful.

- Amy C

5 out of 5 stars on

Patient Review By Jace S

- Jace S

5 out of 5 stars on

Patient Review By Angie M

- Angie M

5 out of 5 stars on

Patient Review By Michelle S

Great experience at this office - thank you!

- Michelle S

5 out of 5 stars on