Why do I need my wisdom teeth removed?
Most people have four wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, which grow at the very back of your mouth. They usually appear during the late teens or early twenties, when all the other adult teeth are in place, and have the tendency to get stuck or grow incorrectly due to a lack of space.
If your wisdom tooth is causing you pain, it is important to get it looked at. We can assess the impact of your tooth on the rest of your mouth and remove it if necessary, especially if it is causing unnecessary decay, infection or gum disease. However, some wisdom teeth will not need to be taken out, and can be managed with other treatments.
What does the treatment involve?
If your wisdom tooth needs to be extracted, we discuss the procedure with you in detail and obtain your consent for the surgery before continuing.
We use local anaesthetic to minimise discomfort and make sure you are relaxed and ready before we begin. We carefully remove your tooth by loosening it little by little until it is easily able to come out. In some cases, and if your wisdom tooth is impacted, we need to make a small cut in your gum to remove it successfully. We may also need to remove large teeth in parts.
Once your tooth has been removed, we ensure you are feeling well and give you some tailored advice on what to expect in the first few days following the procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
The recovery time varies with each individual patient, depending on the complexity of the case. In most cases, you will experience swelling and tenderness for the first few days, which can be managed with over the counter painkillers, as advised by your dentist. Many patients are able to return to their normal daily routines soon after treatment.
If your wisdom tooth is not causing any pain or discomfort, there is usually no need to remove it. Some infections can be treated with a course of antibiotics and the wisdom tooth is able to be left, even if impacted, and kept an eye on at your regular dental examinations. However, if the problem persists, or the impacted tooth is causing issues with cleaning your teeth, we may decide it needs to be removed.
We use local anaesthetic to minimise your discomfort during the extraction, and you should not feel any pain. You may experience some pressure as we loosen your tooth, but this will not be painful and should not take long.
The procedure can take anywhere from a few minutes to around half an hour, depending on the complexity of the case. Your dentist will be able to give you an idea of the timescale at your initial appointment.
You should try and avoid eating hard, chewy or overly acidic foods immediately following your wisdom tooth removal. These can get lodged in the extraction site and cause infection or pain. It is best to stick to soft foods and drink lots of fluids at first. Your dentist will give you detailed advice on what to do following your treatment, including how long your recovery should take.