About Wisdom teeth
- Typically wisdom teeth start to erupt in people aged between 16 years to 26 years old. They derive their name “wisdom teeth” from this being the time of the “getting of wisdom” as you progress from “youth” to “adulthood”.
- Wisdom teeth are the third molars to grow in your mouth (the first molars grow when you are about 6 years and the second molars grow when you are about 12 years old). There are four wisdom teeth in total. Two upper wisdom teeth and two lower wisdom teeth.
- Sometimes wisdom teeth are missing from the mouth because they remain under the gums. A radiograph or x-ray will show whether the tooth is actually missing altogether or just remaining within the jaw bones.Sometimes they do not form at all.
Issues
- Unerupted wisdom teeth: This means that they have not grown into the mouth. Usually, when teeth don’t grow into the mouth it is because they don’t have enough room to fit.
- Cyst formation: A totally unerupted wisdom tooth may be surrounded by fluid. A cyst can form and this may damage adjacent teeth, jaw and nerves. Often the only way this problem is detected is from radiographs (x-rays).
- Pain: As the wisdom teeth move through bone and gum to their final position people may experience some pain or discomfort. This can be due to infected gums or may be part of the normal process of eruption.
- Infected gums: A tooth that has partially broken through the gums allows bacteria to enter the area around the crown of the tooth. Bacteria can breed and cleaning this area can be nearly impossible.
- Decay: A tooth that is partially covered by gum may get decay. This decay may be hard to treat.
- Crowding: Wisdom teeth may not have enough room to come into the mouth in a good position for cleaning and eating. Sometimes they come through at strange angles and may cause uneven wear on other teeth. Sometimes dentists and orthodontists feel that removing the wisdom teeth early may eliminate the potential for wisdom teeth to cause crowding.
How will my wisdom teeth be removed?
Depending on your health and the position of the teeth you may have numerous choices.
- Local anaesthetic: this involves injections and is probably the most inexpensive of the methods of removing teeth. It is generally not used where the procedure is difficult or very long.
- Local anaesthetic and some form of relaxation. (Ask us if you are interested in knowing more)
- General anaesthetic: you will not be awake for the removal of wisdom teeth by this method. This is often the method used when all 4 wisdom teeth need removal. This procedure is usually done as a day procedure. You need to be driven home after the general anaesthetic by someone else after recovery. Please ask us about the advantages and disadvantages of a general anaesthetic for your particular teeth.
Depending on the difficulties in taking out your wisdom teeth we will advise you as to whether we are able to take them out or if you need to see an Oral Surgeon. Oral Surgeons are dentists who have undergone special training in this area. When you attend an Oral Surgeon the initial appointment will be to assess your teeth and health and then advise you on the options you have and the cost involved.
After Removal
It is normal to have some initial swelling and pain after surgery to remove teeth. If we have advised you to take any medication please do so to minimise your discomfort.
Some other helpful tips for a healthy recovery include:
- Rest. Each person is different with how much rest they need. Ask for advice if you are unsure.
- You may need to take time off work or school to recover. It is wise to plan to have a few days at home after surgery.
- Swelling and pain may be relieved by ice packs.
- You may be prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, pain relieving medications and antibiotics if necessary. Some pain killers affect blood clotting and should not be taken after tooth extraction.
- Avoid alcohol on the day of the surgery and while on any medications. Alcohol shouldn’t be taken with certain antibiotics and should not be taken with pain killers.
- Drink lots of liquids so you don’t get dehydrated but be gentle so you don’t wash away the blood clot that forms where the tooth/teeth have been removed.
- Eat soft foods for a few days while your jaw recovers.
- Call us or the Oral surgeon if you have fever, severe pain, excessive bleeding or swelling or any reaction to your medications.
What age should I be when my wisdom teeth are removed?
Often orthodontists will want wisdom teeth removed to prevent the possibility of them interfacing with the teeth straightening they have undertaken. Your dentist may also feel this is an important consideration in your mouth.
Between the ages of 17 and 24 would be “typical” to have wisdom teeth removed. At a younger age, it may be difficult to remove the wisdom teeth because they are embedded deep within the jaw bones and as we get older our jaw bones become denser making removal and healing a greater problem.
Risks
With any treatment there are risks:
- Anaesthetic. General anaesthetics, while very safe today, are not without risks. If you have ever had an allergic reaction to an anaesthetic or any medication please let us know.
- Bleeding. This is rare but a possibility. Normally stopping all activity and sitting down (not lying) and applying pressure to the area by gently biting on a gauze pack for 15 minutes will stop bleeding. Don’t keep removing the pack to see if bleeding has stopped. If, after 15 minutes, bleeding has not stopped please contact the clinic.
- Dry Socket. After a tooth is removed, exposed bone quickly gets covered with a blood clot. If this clot does not form properly or gets washed away you will experience a constant throbbing pain that will last for days. If you do experience pain like this please contact the clinic. Usually, we apply a medicated dressing to the bone socket to help relieve the problem. Remember prevention is better than cure and please:
– Don’t rinse or spit with force for the first 24 hours after surgery as this may loosen the clot.
– Don’t smoke for two weeks after the surgery. Smokers are more likely to get dry sockets. - Numbness. Nerves near the wisdom teeth may be damaged during the removal of the wisdom teeth. This may lead to tingling or numbness which usually disappears over a few weeks as the nerve recovers. In rare cases, the nerve may not heal.
- Infection. It is rare, but if you develop a fever, bleeding or increasing pain this may indicate an infection so please contact the clinic.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding wisdom tooth removal or complications, please do not hesitate to ask our friendly dentist for advice.
