Wisdom Teeth

What are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth can cause discomfort when they come through the gum. Our experienced team are on hand to offer advice and treatment when you need it.

Often there is limited space for these teeth to come through the gum. This can cause food to become accumulated in the area of the wisdom tooth and for the gum to become swollen. Sometimes the gum around wisdom teeth can become infected.

A lot of the time this can be treated with great dental hygiene, cleaning the area well either with an electric toothbrush or expertly with a hygienist/ dentist. If this continues and leads to repeat swellings or infection, they can be removed.

Wisdom teeth can also be ‘impacted’ – whereby they do not come through the gum straight and can grow at an angle. These will often need a full mouth x-ray or a 3 dimensional scan to check, which we can do for you at Smiles Dental Clinic.

The Advice Area

While you are waiting to be seen by one of our team, here are a few things you can do at home to bring you relief

Please note, the advice outlined below is not a substitute to seeing a dentist and will not provide you with a long term solution, so please make an appointment to see one of the team if you have not already done so.

Swollen Face

This can happen as wisdom teeth come through the gum. It can often be an infection developing. We would suggest that you use warm salt water rinses 4-5 times daily and over the counter painkillers. You should arrange an appointment with us as soon as possible.

Reduced Mouth Opening

If you develop an infection around your wisdom tooth this can stop you from being able to open your mouth fully.

We would suggest you arrange an appointment as soon as possible. You are likely to require antibiotics.

In the meantime, we would suggest that you take over the counter pain killers and use salt water rinses 4-5 times daily.

When should I have them removed?

We following NICE guidelines with regards to wisdom tooth extractions. If you have repeated or severe infections around your wisdom teeth we can justify removing them, even if they have only come partially through the gum.

What are the risks?

Thankfully having wisdom teeth removed is quite low risk. There are nerves that gives you feeling to your chin, lip and tongue which can sit closely around wisdom teeth and the roots. If the tooth is close to these nerves is a small chance numbness or altered feeling, usually this is temporary, but rarely it can be permanent. Before taking wisdom teeth out, this nerve is assessed with x-rays so that we can look after you safely. If the wisdom tooth is sitting intimately with the nerve, we can carry out a ‘coronectomy’ which involves removing the top portion of the tooth and leave the root in order to protect the nerve

Does wisdom tooth extraction hurt?

Thankfully, no! There is no pain during the procedure. Nobody likes having a tooth removed, especially a wisdom tooth. We will ensure you are completely numb before the tooth is removed. There can be a feeling of pressure as the tooth is extracted, but no sharp pain.

Is it necessary to have wisdom teeth removed ?

Only if they are causing a problem or a problem on the tooth in front of them.

What happens if you don t get your wisdom teeth taken out?

As long as there is no dental disease in the wisdom tooth, surrounding teeth or bordering region, there is no adverse threats in leaving them as they are as long as good oral hygiene is preserved. It is consequently vital to consistently go to the dental professional to make certain that the wisdom teeth remain in health in addition to the rest of the mouth.

What is the average age for your wisdom teeth to come in?

Wisdom teeth usually appear in late teens or early twenties. However, they can continue to come through your gum throughout life. (The oldest person I have treated whose wisdom tooth came through the gum and needed to be removed was 83!)

Why do wisdom teeth hurts?

There is often limited space for wisdom teeth to come through the gum. This causes food and debris to accumulate around it and cause soreness or infection in the gum. This can lead to pain and swelling.

How much does it cost to have your wisdom teeth removed?

At Smile Dental Studio we charge £250 – £450 based on complexity. This will include your full mouth x-ray and cone beam CT scan if required.

Smile Dental Clinic gives you a reason to keep smiling and to feel confident about it!

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