Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Wisdom teeth are also known as the third molars. They are the last molar teeth to develop which usually grow at the very back of the upper and lower jaw bones, one at each back ‘corner’ of the mouth.

They usually appear when people are aged between 18 and 25 years old; Often, they erupt into the mouth uneventfully and everything is fine. Frequently however, wisdom teeth erupt only partly or they don’t erupt at all. They are then called ‘impacted’ and they are usually a cause of many problems that makes it necessary for them to be removed.

Common Reasons for removing Wisdom Teeth

When a wisdom tooth is impacted and tries to erupt into the mouth, the flap of gum on top of it can become infected and swollen. This can be very very sore! You might even feel pain in nearby teeth, or in the ear on that side of your face. This condition can lead to an infection known as ‘pericoronitis’. If left untreated, severe infections may sometimes require a hospital stay and surgery.

Reasons for removal

1. Infection around a partially erupted wisdom tooth
2. Unrestorable decay or badly broken down wisdom tooth
3. Decay of the neighbouring tooth caused by the wisdom tooth
4. Space considerations (orthodontics).

How are they removed?

Upper Wisdom Teeth

Quite often, these can be very straightforward and can take just a few minutes to remove.

Lower Wisdom Teeth

Many lower wisdom teeth can’t be removed like other teeth. They are stuck (impacted) beneath the gum, either partially or completely, and can be lying at a different angle to the neighbouring tooth.  A minor surgical procedure is usually required to remove these.

Quite often, wisdom teeth can be removed using Local Anaesthetic with or without intravenous sedation. In some cases, a general anaesthetic may be used, especially if more than one or all of the wisdom teeth will be removed at the same time. A general anesthetic prevents pain in the whole body and will cause you to sleep through the procedure.

More Info