Wisdom Teeth Extraction in Annandale
The last of the molars to appear are the wisdom teeth. Four of them — two each on the upper and lower jaw appear after all permanent teeth have appeared. Since they appear when a person is more mature in age (and hopefully wiser), they are called wisdom teeth.
From our experience in dealing with dental concerns, we know that not all wisdom teeth need to be extracted.
Booth Tooth dentists may recommend extraction based on your specific case – typically when we feel that the wisdom tooth may become the reason for other dental problems.
Reasons to remove wisdom teeth
The main concern we have is to preserve and maintain the oral health of a patient. After dental consultation, wisdom teeth removal may be suggested if there are any of the following reasons:
- The wisdom teeth are impacted – given they erupt as the last of the molars, sometimes they do not have enough space to come out and can get caught in the jaw bone and can cause problems
- Pain – constant pain which increases in severity and also results in difficulty in moving the jaw
- Decay – because wisdom teeth are right at the back of your mouth, tooth decay is often seen in wisdom teeth. This could also be because the teeth are impacted and attract infection
- Cyst formation – a sac is formed around the wisdom teeth which can lead to decay and affect oral health
- Gum disease – the impacted tooth affects the gum lining of the mouth and can bring infection and inflammation in the gum tissue
How do we do it?
Dental surgery to remove wisdom teeth is performed under anaesthesia. Various types of anaesthesia are available, and your dentist can discuss which option may be appropriate for you, including local anaesthesia, happy gas (nitrous oxide), twilight sedation, or even general anaesthesia.
If there is an infection in the gum lining, then the surgery is done after the infection clears. Your Booth Tooth Dentist can prescribe medicine to help clear the infection.
To remove the impacted tooth, a cut is made on the gum tissue to expose the jaw bone and the tooth. With careful precision, our dental team will then remove the tooth. The site is then cleaned to make sure that there is no debris of tooth or bone. The wound is then stitched closed.
What to expect after extraction
Recovery experiences vary between patients depending on their individual circumstances. You can expect some bleeding from the site where surgery has been done. You might feel uneasy but do try to avoid excessive spitting and cleaning of the mouth. This might dislodge the blood clot that is formed and delay your recovery.
Swelling, pain and bruising may be experienced – our dentists can discuss medications that may help manage the pain. Placing a cold pack may help to reduce the swelling and provide some comfort. You should also take care to consume soft food in the initial days as hard and chewy food can irritate the wound.
Get in touch with us today
Are you in pain because of an impacted wisdom tooth? Talk to us today.
You can book an appointment by filling in the form online, or reach us via phone or email. Our office staff will answer your queries and set up an appointment.
Other Services
We Make Getting a Healthy Smile as Easy as…
1
Call us on (02) 9552 2768 to make an appointment
2
Visit us and enjoy the relaxed environment and a sense of control, as we explain what’s happening and check in with you regularly
3
Look forward to a healthier smile - we work with you to create a personalised plan designed to support your oral health well into the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wisdom teeth extraction is usually recommended when teeth are impacted, they cause pain or swelling, or they increase the risk of decay or infection due to hard cleaning access. Booth Tooth dentists assess each case individually and suggest removal only when needed.
The process includes a clinical exam and X-rays to assess impaction or infection. A local anaesthetic or sedation option is then administered, where clinically appropriate, the tooth is accessed and removed, and the site may be cleaned and stitched if required. The exact approach depends on your individual case.
Recovery typically takes between three days and two weeks, though this varies between patients depending on their individual circumstances. Patients may experience swelling and mild pain, and should follow post-operative care such as eating soft foods and avoiding straws, smoking, or spitting to help reduce the risk of complications like dry socket.