Wisdom Tooth Extractions
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the final four teeth that erupt in your mouth. You’ll normally start noticing them around the ages of 17-25.
They are interesting teeth in that they exhibit the most variation in size, shape and position compared to all other teeth.
Most people get them but they often don’t have enough room for them to come out fully. They also erupt at varying angles and may not come out entirely straight.
What happens if I ignore them?
If you’re lucky wisdom teeth won’t give you any problems – but this is rare.
Infection
The most common problem is when the gum gets infected around a wisdom tooth when it does not have enough room to come out. Impacted wisdom teeth can lead to pain, swelling and difficulty opening.
Crowding
Ignoring a wisdom tooth can sometimes create crowding. If there is not enough space and the wisdom teeth are fighting for position they can often shift other teeth and cause malalignment.
Decay
Perhaps the worst situation is when they create inaccessible areas to clean in your mouth. This can cause the wisdom tooth to decay, causing pain. However, in certain cases it can lead to decay or defects in other teeth meaning these teeth might also need to be removed.
Removing or extracting wisdom teeth is the only long-term solution when there is not enough space for impacted wisdom teeth. Because wisdom tooth surgery is more complex, a single tooth extraction will require a panoramic x-ray to assess the area. We can then assess the position of the tooth and the type of surgery required to remove it. Depending on the amount of wisdom teeth you need removed and the type of surgery required you may prefer to be awake for the procedure or asleep.
No, not all wisdom teeth need to be removed. But if you are going to be asleep to remove one or several problem teeth it’s probably best to have them all removed at the same time.
It is also worth considering that wisdom tooth removal is much easier earlier in life (under 25). The bone around the teeth is softer and more supple and there is better blood circulation. This means you’ll often heal faster with less pain and complications, and the teeth themselves will come out easier.
Yes, you can. We can arrange for our anaesthetist to put you to sleep in our surgery so you won’t remember a thing. This way you won’t need to go to hospital.
Recovery varies from person to person. Younger patients generally heal faster. Recovery for surgical removal is normally 7-10 days. Recovery for a simpler extraction can be quicker and often 2-3 days. We will provide you with scripts for pain medication and antibiotics if necessary. If we are performing surgery under IV sedation we might administer anti-inflammatory medication via the drip.
Learn More Today
If you’d like to speak with us about wisdom tooth removal, we’re here for you and ready to answer your questions. Contact Southern Dental Care – Smile By Design today to learn more about your options and schedule a visit so that we can assess your needs.
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