Most people, but not all, are born with wisdom teeth, but sometimes they don’t come out (erupt). Often, they can grow sideways, or they can stay in full, or in part, in the bone – these are known as impacted wisdom teeth.
For some people the wisdom teeth will not cause any issues and can remain in the mouth permanently. For others they can cause problems and may need to be removed. There are two types of Wisdom Tooth Removal:
Non-surgical extraction (known medically as a Simple Extraction, even though it isn’t simple and requires a lot of dental training!).
Surgical Extraction. This is a far more complex extraction and is usually only done by someone with a Special Interest (S.I.) in Oral Surgery or an Oral Surgeon. At tooth we have a S.I. Oral Surgeon, who completes multiple surgical and non-surgical extractions every day.
You may also need an OPG, and all patients needing a wisdom tooth extraction must have a new patient exam or an oral surgery consultation first so the dentist can take x rays (and OPG if required) and assess the situation.
Top 5 reasons for having Wisdom Tooth Extractions:
If you are in pain owing to your wisdom teeth as they are causing the gum to get swell (inflammation).
If your wisdom teeth are erupting (coming out) and causing issues.
If your wisdom teeth are impacted and this is causing pain or swelling, etc.
If the wisdom teeth are growing in the wrong direction or are mispositioned causing food trapping between the wisdom tooth and the neighbouring tooth – this can cause decay.
If you are having orthodontic treatment (such as fixed braces or Invisalign) your Dentist may advise removal of wisdom teeth to create space for the teeth you are moving.
What types of Wisdom Tooth Extractions do we offer at tooth?
The reason to go for perfect jaw alignment is not only cosmetic. A proper smile, in addition to beauty, gives you good oral health. Failing to correct crooked teeth or misaligned jaws can result in tooth decay due to food stuck in gaps between teeth, periodontal gum disease, speech impediment and chewing problems.
What should I expect if I am having a Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
Your S.I. Oral Surgeon or Dentist will advise you of the procedure and this may vary depending on whether it is a Non-surgical Wisdom Tooth Extraction (Simple Extraction) or a Surgical Wisdom Tooth Extraction. The procedure typically takes around 30 mins or less for a Non-Surgical Extraction and around 60 mins for a Surgical Extraction, but this could be more and the Dentist will decide how long they need.
The Dentist or Specialist will numb the area(s) where the Wisdom Extraction is going to take place and proceed to remove the tooth with a variety of special instruments and handpieces, assisted by a Dental Nurse who will ensure the process runs as quickly, smoothly and calmly as possible.
Wisdom teeth are normally removed in pairs (upper x 2 or lower x 2), but they can sometimes be done singularly if required.