Wisdom teeth

wisdom teeth

What is a wisdom tooth?

A 'wisdom' tooth is a third molar tooth. They can appear in upper and lower jaw, on both sides. It is possible to have four in total.

Does everyone have wisdom teeth?

No. It is thought that between 5 and 40 people out of a hundred are missing one or more third molars. They may not come through for many reasons including genetics (if your parents didn't have them, you probably won't too). Other factors are the size and shape of your jaw, the teeth you already have and how you chew. Sometimes the wisdom tooth becomes stuck - either it can't emerge at all, or it might come through at an angle. This is known as being 'impacted' and it happens in 17-69 people out of 100. You can detect wisdom teeth that haven't come through with an x-ray.

What age do wisdom teeth come in?

Wisdom teeth (or third molars) do not normally start to emerge until between the ages of 17 and 25, although some people don't actually ever get them. In most cases, wisdom teeth will ache when they emerge through the gums, but otherwise cause you very little discomfort.

When are wisdom teeth a problem?

However, if the space in the mouth is limited, the wisdom teeth may become impacted. This is when a tooth tries to come through the gum but gets stuck against the tooth next to it and emerges at an angle.

This can cause:

• Toothache.

• Earache pain.

• Swelling.

• infection.

• Cysts and abscesses.

If this is the case, then it could be necessary to have the wisdom teeth removed from your mouth.

How are wisdom teeth removed?

Before the procedure

Before the procedure, the dentist will talk through how to prepare. Smokers will need to stop their habit several weeks before the operation to avoid the chances of complications, and everyone having the treatment will need to sign a consent that shows they understand any risks associated with the treatment.

If there are any alternatives to extraction, the dentist will explain them. For example, if a wisdom tooth is impacted but otherwise healthy and not causing discomfort or tooth pain then it may not need to be removed at all.

During the procedure

When it comes to the procedure itself, a local anaesthetic will be used to block the pain from the nerves but you will remain awake throughout. People who are nervous about going in the chair, may be given a sedative treatment to help relax whilst the procedure takes place.

If your case is particularly challenging then you may need to go to a hospital to see an oral surgeon specialist to plan and complete the treatment. The fear most people have is pain during the treatment; however, the procedure itself is actually pain-free.

The pain after the procedure is typical of any surgical procedure and advice will be given on how to manage the healing socket after the procedure.

Having a wisdom tooth removed is generally straightforward and the extraction can take as little as a minute. The same method is used as would be for any other extraction, in that specialised instruments are used to widen the socket. The tooth is then rocked back and forth in order to loosen the fine ligament that holds it in place, and is then removed it.

If the tooth is highly impacted, it could be necessary for the dentist to make a small incision in your gum to gain access to the tooth. Once removed, the dentist will use stitches (usually dissolvable) to help your gums to heal. In this scenario, the procedure can take around 20 minutes to complete.

After the removal

If a general anaesthetic is used (which is rare these days) a friend or family member will be needed to take you home and look after you for the next 24 hours, as the lingering effects of the anaesthetic can affect your behaviour and judgement.

Although local anaesthetics have less impact immediately after the procedure, numbness in the mouth is usual for a few hours afterwards, so care should be taken not to inadvertently scald yourself with hot food or drink.

Anti-inflammatory medicine or antibiotics might be prescribed to take during recovery. If over-the-counter painkillers are needed, aspiring should be avoided. Blood clots help with the healing process and aspirin can complicate this by thinning the blood.

When brushing, avoid the affected area for a couple of days. It is sensible to eat softer foods while the gum heals and avoid chewing with the teeth near where the tooth was removed.

If there is extreme pain or swelling, extensive bleeding or you have a temperature then consult a dentist immediately.

Complications

In the days following the removal the face may feel swollen or sore but this should soon pass. In other cases there is the possibility of an unexpected reaction to anaesthetic or other complications such as accidental damage to teeth, nerves, sockets or infection.

Other complications depend on the specifics of your situation. The dentist will discuss them ahead of the procedure.

How much does it cost to remove a wisdom tooth?

Wisdom tooth extractions come under band 2 for NHS dental treatments, currently costing £70.70. If you have the treatment carried out privately the cost varies widely and will depend on the complexity and time it takes to complete.

Will removal affect my brushing?

It may be uncomfortable to brush shortly after having wisdom teeth removed, especially around any wounds. For this reason, the dentist might recommend using a mouthwash to help keep the area clean.

What is 'dry socket'?

Dry socket, the informal name for alveolar osteitis, is when the blood clot helping the wound heal around your tooth socket becomes infected, causing severe pain which is not controlled with medicine.

Dry socket requires immediate attention. This usually involves anti-inflammatories to ease the discomfort, a medicated antiseptic dressing to promote healing and possibly a course of antibiotics to control the infection.

Can I have wisdom teeth removed whilst pregnant?

There is no reason to believe that the procedure would have any impact on your pregnancy. However, dentists may opt not to use X-rays and to use local, rather than general, anaesthetic.

In many cases the dentist is likely to wait and carry out the treatment after the birth, unless it was considered an emergency procedure.

Will I need time off to recover?

Most people need two or three days off work to recover from the effects of the anaesthetic after they have had wisdom teeth removed. Those with a more physical job may need an extra day or two.

If work involves driving, it should be fine to return after 24-48 hours after having had anaesthetic, but use judgement and seek advice from a dentist if there is doubt.

This article was initially provided by Toothpick, a provider of online dentist appointments in the UK.