Dental TreatmentWisdom Teeth

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

By the age of eighteen, the average adult has 32 teeth, 16 teeth on the top and 16 on the bottom. The average mouth is made to hold 28 teeth. It can be painful when 32 teeth try to fit in a mouth that holds only 28 teeth. These four other teeth are your third molars, also known as ‘wisdom teeth.’ Wisdom teeth are the last to erupt within the mouth, and wisdom teeth pain can be excruciating, so you may need to see your dentist as soon as possible.

Why Should I Remove My Wisdom Teeth?

Not all wisdom teeth need to be removed, but they all need to be checked by your dentist. When they align properly, and gum tissue is healthy, wisdom teeth do not have to be removed. Unfortunately, this does not always happen.
The extraction of wisdom teeth is sometimes necessary when they are prevented from properly erupting within the mouth. They may grow sideways, partially emerge from the gum buried into the bone. Impacted wisdom teeth can take many positions in the bone as they make an effort to find a pathway that will enable them to erupt successfully. Difficulty in opening the mouth, pain while biting and chewing, tender swelling are a few impacted wisdom teeth symptoms.
When they have partially erupted, the opening around the tooth is difficult to clean. Food trapped beneath the gums will quickly lead to painful inflammation, which can eventually cause an infection. An acute wisdom teeth infection arises speedily and results in fever, painful swelling, and difficulty chewing, and limited mouth opening. Removal of the offending impacted tooth or teeth usually resolves these problems.
Early removal is recommended to avoid further problems and decrease the surgical risk involved in the wisdom teeth removal procedure.

Oral Examination

With an oral examination and x-rays of the mouth, we can evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth and predict if there may be present or future problems.

Medical Management 

Anti-inflammatory medications are used to resolve wisdom teeth swelling. Apart from these, analgesics are given for pain relief. If there are visible signs of infection, antibiotics for wisdom teeth are preferred for making it infection-free, and further treatment is then taken up.

How Are Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Surgical Procedure For Removing Wisdom Teeth

Here at Conway House Dental Practice, in most cases, your wisdom teeth will be removed in the practice if required. There are two basic options available for the wisdom teeth surgery: Local anaesthesia and IV sedation with local anaesthesia.

Once the teeth are removed, the gum is sutured correctly, and gauze is placed in your mouth to bite on to control the wisdom teeth bleeding. You will rest under our supervision in the surgery until you are ready to be taken home. Upon discharge, your post-operative kit will include postoperative instructions, a prescription for wisdom teeth pain relief medication and a follow-up appointment for a review.

Commonly Asked Questions 

Q. Do Wisdom Teeth Hurt?

Wisdom teeth eruption doesn’t need to hurt in every individual. This is because our oral cavity has the maximum capacity to accommodate 28 teeth, but these extra teeth taking up space leads to pain and discomfort. However, depending on the anatomy of your mouth, wisdom teeth may also erupt without causing any significant trouble.

Q. Do You Have To Remove Wisdom Teeth? 

If you are lucky enough to have correctly aligned wisdom teeth, then you don’t require removal. However, if you are facing any evident trouble, getting them removed may be the best option.

Q. What Is ‘Dry Socket’ Wisdom Teeth? 

Dry socket is a postoperative complication of wisdom teeth extraction when the blood clot in the socket gets dislodged, and the extraction socket is left exposed to the surrounding.

Q. When Can I Eat Solid Food After Wisdom Teeth Removal? 

Once your tooth is removed, you have to be on a liquid diet or very soft food, where you don’t have to chew, for at least 24 hours. Avoid intake of any hard, crunchy, or acidic and spicy food for at least a week after removal of teeth.

Q. How Long Does It Take To Remove Wisdom Teeth? 

The procedure of getting wisdom teeth removed usually lasts for a few minutes. Difficult or impacted wisdom teeth may have to be broken into small parts, which may take a bit longer. But overall, the procedure gets completed in half an hour.

Q. Can Wisdom Teeth Cause Jaw Pain?

When wisdom teeth erupt they may make the gum sore above the wisdom tooth as it pushes through.

Q. How Long Does It Take For Wisdom Teeth To Heal? 

Wisdom teeth removal recovery time is usually 2-3 days, but it largely depends on the individual. However, wisdom teeth recovery can be augmented by taking proper nutrition and giving adequate rest to your mouth.

Q. What Are Some Of The Wisdom Teeth Removal Complications? 

A few wisdom teeth problems while removal includes the risk of haemorrhage and injury to adjacent structures. Infection after wisdom teeth removal is another major complication. It can be managed by prescribing antibiotics.

Q. How Long Does Wisdom Teeth Pain Last?

Pain relief medications will help you cope with the pain. The pain will usually resolve within a day or two after removal.

We are very fortunate at Conway House to have Adrian RJ Curtis FDS RCS (Eng) BDS (QUB), who is an Associate Specialist in Oral Surgery at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury. Adrian specialises in the extraction of difficult teeth, including wisdom teeth. We will also provide you with a very comfortable and friendly environment so that you don’t feel nervous before any treatment. Our Dentists will also encourage you and help you out in developing better oral hygiene practices so that you don’t have to face any dental trouble in the future. Even if you do, Conway House is at your service to help you and deliver the best dental services in the town.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call us on 01494 526 578.