If the teeth have enough room to keep growing in their planned position and the adult teeth in front remain healthy, you may not need to have your wisdom teeth removed at all.
Wisdom teeth can become impacted or misaligned due to overcrowding and lack of space in the mouth, leading to pain and other complications.
If emerging wisdom teeth are causing problems, we may suggest removing them before they become impacted (stuck and unable to grow in correctly) and before additional damage is done to other adult teeth.
Your dentist will assess your teeth and determine whether removal is necessary. Following are the circumstances where removing wisdom teeth is indicated:
Impacted wisdom teeth (where a tooth is trapped against its neighbouring tooth or the jawbone) can lead to pain, infection, and damage to nearby teeth.
When wisdom teeth become impacted, they may crowd other teeth, causing pain and making it difficult to brush and floss properly, therefore are more susceptible to decay and infection.
When nearby teeth don’t have enough space, wisdom teeth can cause teeth to shift and change position, leading to alignment issues and even tooth decay.
Removing wisdom teeth can help restore balance and stability in your mouth by giving other teeth the room they need to remain healthy.
As wisdom teeth grow, they cut through gums, causing discomfort and increasing the risk of infection. This should pass relatively quickly; however, when the tooth doesn’t completely erupt, the risk of recurring infection or gum disease increases.
In these circumstances, wisdom teeth must be removed as soon as possible to maintain good oral health.
Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last teeth to come in – and this can make it hard for you to reach in with your toothbrush and floss between the teeth at the back.
Your wisdom teeth may also create pockets for plaque and bacteria to collect, leaving you more prone to cavities or gum disease.
Wisdom teeth extractions can be performed under local anaesthetic or, depending on the difficulty and risks associated with the individual tooth; you may be referred to an oral surgeon for the extraction.
It’s important to know that having wisdom teeth removed has helped many people relieve their discomfort and maintain their oral health.
Our friendly dentists will guide you through the process and make sure you’re comfortable and relaxed throughout.
The first step is an assessment.
Your dentist will typically take x-rays and an OPG when wisdom teeth are present. This is to get a better idea of their location, angulation, and size before any wisdom teeth removal is suggested.
This step is important as removing wisdom teeth can impact the rest of your mouth, including moving nearby teeth and changes in inflammation. Your dentist wants to be sure they have all of the details before they recommend wisdom tooth removal.
After gathering a more comprehensive dental history, we then assess the condition of your wisdom teeth and discuss whether removal is necessary or if alternative treatments are available.
When it comes to wisdom teeth removal, patients have various options for pain relief. For some, local anaesthesia is enough to numb the area and make the procedure comfortable. The type of anaesthesia used is often based on patient preference, and we will answer any questions you have before the surgery.
No matter your preference, we will work with you to ensure you are as comfortable as possible throughout the entire wisdom teeth removal procedure.
Whether we are removing a single wisdom tooth, or you are having all four wisdom teeth removed, we begin by numbing the area around the tooth and then making an incision in the gum tissue.
To do this, the wisdom tooth is carefully extracted from its socket, and in some cases, it needs to be broken into smaller pieces before being taken out. To complete the process, any bone that was impacted by the wisdom tooth may need to be gently taken away as well.
The incision will then be closed with stitches, and we place a sterile gauze pad on the socket to help allow a blood clot to form. You will then be given instructions for care following the procedure.
Be sure to follow your dentist’s instructions for care after the procedure. With proper care and healing, you’ll be back to your usual self in no time. One of the most important things to do after having your wisdom teeth removed is to take good care of the extraction sites.
By following these simple instructions, you can help ensure a quick and successful recovery.
At your post-operative appointment after removing your wisdom teeth, the doctor will do a full assessment to make sure the healing process is progressing as it should.
The stitches put in place during surgery should have dissolved on their own, but your dentist will still check the site to ensure everything is running smoothly.
Taking good post-care of this procedure is key at this stage, so please let us know if you feel any pain or discomfort as we monitor your healing progress.
It’s normal to experience some pain and discomfort following a tooth extraction, but there are a few things you should watch out for:
We will check for these signs at your post-operative review appointment, however, if the pain is significant, please reach out.
Not always. Wisdom teeth may not cause problems, and you can often leave them in place. However, in some cases, wisdom teeth may become impacted and create painful and serious issues for your surrounding teeth and gums.
Wisdom tooth removal should always be done at the advice of your dentist.
They can closely examine your mouth and determine if your wisdom teeth are causing any issues or potential oral health problems.
Depending on the complexity of your case, we may refer you to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for your wisdom teeth removal. Oral surgeons are specially trained in complex cases and difficult-to-remove teeth.
For example, extracting impacted wisdom teeth that have grown into the jawbone can be a complex procedure, so where indicated, we will refer you to a specialist for further treatment.
What age do wisdom teeth come in?
Wisdom teeth come in at different times for different people. Usually, they come in between mid-teens and mid-twenties, but they can come in one at a time or all at once.
The reason wisdom teeth come in at this age is that that’s when our jaws are typically big enough for them to fit in comfortably. If you don’t have enough space for your wisdom teeth, they can cause pain and other problems.
What are the first signs of wisdom teeth?
The first signs of wisdom teeth are mild discomfort in the back of the jaw and swelling or soreness around the gums. As wisdom teeth grow in, they can cause pressure and pain in the gums and jaw. In some cases, the tooth may grow in at an angle and push against other teeth, causing pain – normally called an impacted wisdom tooth.
If you experience any of these symptoms, please see us as soon as possible. Wisdom teeth that aren’t removed can become infected and lead to other dental problems.
Book an appointment online with our dentists today.
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Tuesday: 8:00am to 7:00pm
Wednesday: 8:00am to 5:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am to 6:00pm
Friday: 8:00am to 5:00pm
Saturday: By appointment
Sunday: Closed
Smileologie
914 Stanley Street East
EAST BRISBANE, QLD, 4169
Phone: (07) 3392 1942
Email: smiles@smileologie.com.au