Wisdom Tooth Removal
Also called the third molars, wisdom teeth erupt sometime between the late teens and early twenties. During this time, it’s a good idea to have your teeth assessed to determine if they require removal.
It’s ideal to have wisdom teeth removed earlier because as we grow older, the jaws start to become denser and brittle so healing time increases. You don’t want to wait until there’s an infection that has flared up. It’s better to have your wisdom teeth assessed and then plan for their removal.
Do My Wisdom Teeth Need to Come Out?
Not everyone will need to have their wisdom teeth removed. However, if you have overcrowding and there’s not enough room for them to come in, removal may be necessary. Or if there is inadequate access to clean them properly and you’re getting food and plaque impaction that might indicate that there’s decay forming on the teeth in front; in that case, removal is also advisable.
Another reason for removal would be if the opposing teeth are biting on the gums; that overlay of the erupting wisdom tooth can be quite painful.
Putting Patients at Ease
Understandably, many people may feel nervous about having their wisdom teeth removed. We offer various sedation options to help patients feel more comfortable during the procedure. Inhalation sedation is available or we can arrange for an anaesthetist to attend and provide sleep sedation.
What to Expect Afterwards
To reduce discomfort after the procedure we may prescribe some stronger anti-inflammatories (pain medications) and potentially some antibiotics as well. It depends on the tooth; some wisdom teeth are not impacted and the healing time is surprisingly quick.
Then other times when we have impacted teeth that require surgical removal, we’d expect that there would be more discomfort, perhaps some bruising and swelling for 1-2 weeks.
Book a Consultation
If your wisdom teeth are bothering you contact us today to schedule a consultation. It’s important to get your teeth assessed before it becomes an emergency.
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*Any invasive or surgical procedure may carry risks. Before moving forward, it is recommended that you seek a second opinion from an appropriately licensed medical professional.
