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Wisdom Teeth

Examinations and surgeries for wisdom teeth causing discomfort.

Remove Impacted Teeth

When you have an impacted wisdom tooth, it can create immense discomfort and pain while also leading to overall dental decay and damage to surrounding teeth. Regular dental visits will give your dentist the opportunity to keep track of how your wisdom teeth are developing and emerging, and whether treatment is required. 

What are wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the most rear teeth in the mouth. Most people have four wisdom teeth, and these are the last to emerge in the mouth. Wisdom teeth often become impacted because they lack space to properly emerge and instead stay lodged in the gums. Not all impacted wisdom teeth will cause complications, but it is worthwhile checking on them at every dentist appointment to catch any signs of a problem early.

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what-are-wisdom-teeth

Impacted wisdom teeth

Tooth impaction occurs when a tooth fails to fully grow out from the gums because it lacks room or emerges at the wrong angle. Wisdom teeth often become impacted because they lack space to properly emerge at the back of the mouth, and instead stay lodged in the gums. Not all impacted wisdom teeth will cause complications, but it is worthwhile checking on them at every dentist appointment to catch any signs of a problem early.

Do my wisdom teeth need to be removed?

Wisdom teeth pain is very frustrating, and impacted teeth can also result in damage to surrounding teeth, contributing to overall crookedness, dental decay and gum disease. Removing them will relieve pain and avoid other dental complications, even if they are not currently causing any symptoms. Your dentist will do one or more wisdom teeth x-rays to examine their position and health.

Signs and symptoms

Some common signs your wisdom teeth need to come out include red and swollen gums, aching jaws, bleeding and tenderness, bad breath, and difficulty when eating or opening your mouth. Because of the amount of pain and issue they can cause, we recommend removing wisdom teeth that need it as early as possible. Young adults typically respond to extraction better, so removing them in your younger years is preferable.

Extraction procedure

It’s always best to remove an impacted or decayed wisdom tooth as early as possible, to prevent further infection or pain. This is our wisdom tooth extraction process.


  • Anaesthetic: Your dentist will numb your gums and then inject local anaesthetic near the extraction area. If you are in a day hospital, this will occur after general anaesthetic has been applied.
  • Incision: The dentist or surgeon makes an incision in the gum tissue that allows them to access the impacted tooth. They may divide the tooth into sections, making it easier to remove.
  • Removal: The impacted tooth is pulled out from your gum line. If you are in the dental chair, you will likely feel some pressure and maybe hear some noises but should not experience any pain. Once the tooth is removed, your dentist will clean the site of any excess debris or tissue.
  • Stitching: The incision wound is cleaned and closed to allow it to heal, and gauze is placed over the extraction site to help a blood clot form and ensure that you do not lose too much blood. Sometimes stitches are used to close the wound, but your dentist will advise you whether you need to return for any follow-up procedures. 

In-chair removal

Removal under local anaesthetic can be completed in the dental chair. Your dentist will use a substance to numb your gums and then inject the anaesthetic near the site of extraction. You will be awake during extraction and while you may feel some pressure, you won’t experience pain.

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Day surgery

Removal under general anaesthetic, also known as wisdom teeth surgery, is performed in the hospital as a day surgery procedure. You will lose consciousness when the anaesthesia is supplied, and the surgical team will also provide local anaesthetic to the extraction site to help with discomfort once you wake up.

Wisdom teeth aftercare

Your dentist will provide you with a detailed set of instructions regarding how to manage any pain and let your mouth heal optimally. Important things to remember include:

 

  • Swelling: Most patients will experience some form of swelling from wisdom teeth removal, but gently pressing a cold compress or an ice pack over the face can help reduce it and relieve pain.
  • Pain Relief: It is advisable to use some over the counter pain relief before the numbing gel wears off, to try and take the edge off any discomfort.
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  • Food and Drink: Avoid any overly hot substances, but eat only soft foods that are room temperature or cold, avoiding anything overly chewy, hard or spicy. Do not drink any alcohol, caffeine or carbonated beverages for at least 24 hours, and avoid using straws as the sucking action can disrupt your blood clot from healing. 
  • Bleeding: Some blood may be noticeable during the first day, but avoid spitting which may dislodge the blood clot. Your dentist will provide you with gauze pads that you can use over the extraction site to stem blood flow without affecting the clot.
  • Cleaning: It is important not to brush your teeth, spit, rinse or use mouthwash for at least 24 hours. Afterwards, make sure to be very careful near the wound and only gently rinse your mouth.

Learn more about Wisdom Teeth

No More Pain

Our dentists and hygienists are trained professionals and committed to your wellbeing. To get wisdom teeth removed sounds like a frightening experience, but our gentle approach and technique makes it as easy as a regular check up.

FAQs

While many people will have one to four wisdom teeth emerge in their lifetime, some people will never have any appear at all.

Not necessarily — your dentist will examine each of the four wisdom teeth to examine whether they are currently causing a problem, may cause one in future, or if they will be fine without extraction! Your dentist may suggest extracting one even if it poses no immediate problem because it is easier to extract at younger ages, and leaving it would risk it turning into a big problem that is difficult to fix.

During the extraction, the extraction area will be numbed with anaesthetic and you will not be able to feel it. However, you may experience some oral pain and discomfort in the post-treatment period. You may also experience headaches from wisdom teeth extraction. Make use of over the counter pain medications to reduce your pain.

Unfortunately no, you can’t stop impaction from occurring, but attending regular dental appointments for a check up and clean will allow your dentist to keep track of how your wisdom teeth are emerging and recognise if they will require intervention.

The first day after surgery you should avoid brushing your teeth and rinsing. After 24 hours, you can begin warm saltwater rinses, ideally after every time you eat or drink anything other than water. You can also resume brushing after 24 hours, but it is important to be particularly careful around the extraction area.

 

If you don’t look after your mouth properly following treatment, you may disturb the blood clot that needs to form in the wound and cause dry socket.

Dry socket is a painful condition where the blood clot that should form after a tooth extraction is removed or dissolved. Without the blood clot forming, the underlying nerves and bone are exposed, leading to significant pain as well as bad breath. Dry socket is a big concern in the extraction post-treatment period, but can be treated by flushing the socket and placing a medicated dressing that allows the clot to form.


If dry socket is allowed to occur and goes untreated, you may experience an infection after wisdom teeth removal, which can lead to further infection, pain and swelling.

Each patient’s wisdom teeth removal cost will be different, depending on factors such as the type of impaction and the level that wisdom teeth are submerged at. More complex extractions — such as those requiring a day surgery procedure — will cost more. Patients will also incur a cost for the required x ray and consultation.