Wisdom Teeth FAQ'S

 

Q. What are wisdom teeth?
A. Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt at the back of the mouth. They usually erupt between the ages of 17yrs and 25yrs. Sometimes they erupt much after that, or may not erupt at all.

Q My wisdom teeth have not come through fully why is that?
 A. These days the jaws are not big enough for all 32 teeth to erupt and usually there is only room for 28 teeth. This means that the last teeth to erupt, which are the wisdom teeth, can get stuck if there is not enough room.

Q Should all wisdom teeth be extracted?
A. No. Current thinking is that only wisdom teeth that are causing problems should be extracted. The sort of problems that wisdom teeth can cause are pain from the surrounding gum if food and bacteria get in, pain if the tooth is decayed, pain from the tooth next to the wisdom tooth as a result of food getting stuck and causing decay, or if the tooth has erupted too much or towards the cheek and is digging in and causing pain. Therefore, if you have any of the above then the wisdom teeth may have to be removed.

Q. I have heard that it is very painful to have wisdom teeth removed?
 A. It is not painful to have wisdom teeth extracted. The upper wisdom teeth are fairly easy to extract. The lower wisdom teeth can be a bit more difficult especially if they are stuck. The local anaesthetic these days is very good and the extraction is totally painless, however there will be some pain and swelling for a few days after the procedure.

Q. I have been told by my dentist that I my wisdom teeth need to be removed as they are causing a lot of pain and bad breath, but I am very nervous and would like to be knocked out for the extraction. Is that possible?
 A. Yes it is possible to have a General Anaesthetic to have your wisdom teeth removed and for some cases, this is still done in hospital. However, in most dental surgeries that have facilities to remove wisdom teeth they will also have the facilities to give intravenous sedation. Sedation will relax you and allow the removal of your wisdom teeth without you being aware of what is happening. It is very safe. Sedation may be best for you when you have your wisdom teeth extracted.

Q. Do you need to go to hospital to have your wisdom teeth taken out?
 A. The dentist will be able to take x-rays of the wisdom teeth and assess how difficult the removal of the teeth will be. In most cases it is possible to have your wisdom teeth extracted at the dental surgery, but more complex cases may be referred to the oral surgeon at the hospital

Q Are there any risks involved in having my wisdom teeth removed?
 A. There are some minor risks involved in having any surgical procedure carried out. The risks in having lower wisdom teeth extracted are that it is possible to bruise the nerve that lies close to the roots of these teeth which, may result in numbness or tingling of the lips and or tongue. This is usually only temporary but it can take weeks or months to get better. The other minor risk is that after the removal of the wisdom teeth there will be swelling and pain, it may be difficult to open your mouth fully for a few days. Your dentist will explain all these to you when he examines and discusses the removal of your wisdom teeth.

Q How much time off work will I need after my wisdom teeth are extracted?
 A. This is very difficult to assess, it depends on how difficult the extractions will be and also on how your body reacts to the removal of the teeth. Some people do have a fair amount of swelling which can last for 5-7 days, where as some people have none at all and are fine the following day. It is best to be on the safe side and plan 4-5 days off after the extraction.

Q. I am 21years old; my dentist has advised me that my upper wisdom teeth will need to be extracted, because they are growing outwards. I feel quite nervous about the surgery and about the care after surgery. What can I expect and what sorts of pain relief are available to me?
 A. Generally upper wisdom teeth are relatively easy to extract and it the lower wisdom teeth that can present problems. However, if you are nervous about having these extractions then the treatment can be carried out under sedation. There should not be any significant postoperative pain, but the dentist will provide some analgesics to control the pain.

Q. Will the extraction of my lower wisdom teeth effect the shape of my jaw line?
 A. The shape of your jaw line is determined by the outline of the lower border of the mandible (lower jaw), and by having your lower wisdom teeth extracted should not have any effect on this.

Should you require any further dental information or advice on Wisdom Teeth, then please contact The Dentist@ Dentecom.