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.
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 and 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, and tender swelling are a few symptoms that impact wisdom teeth.
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, 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.
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.
Anti-inflammatory medications are used to resolve swelling in wisdom teeth. Apart from these, analgesics are given for pain relief. If there are visible signs of infection, antibiotics for wisdom teeth are preferred to make them infection-free, and further treatment is then taken up.
Surgical Procedure For Removing Wisdom Teeth
In most cases, your wisdom teeth will be removed here at Caversham Heights Dental Practice if required. Two basic options are available for 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 during the surgery until you are ready to be taken home. Upon discharge, your postoperative kit will include postoperative instructions, a prescription for wisdom teeth pain relief medication and a follow-up appointment for a review.
