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What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt into the mouth and are located at the very back of the mouth.
They are the 3rd molars. There are usually 4 wisdom teeth although some people may have 1 or more missing.
They usually come through between the ages of 18-25years old, however they can erupt much later as well.
Do I need to have my wisdom teeth removed?
A common misconception is that all wisdom teeth need to be extracted. This is not always true, although sometimes there are valid reasons for having them taken out.
These are some of the reasons why we would recommend extracting one or more of your wisdom teeth:
- There is not enough space for them to erupt fully.
- You are unable to clean them effectively, and it has caused decay to the teeth or caused gum disease.
- They are erupting in an unusual position, sometimes even horizontally.
- You have had pain/infection symptoms multiple times where the wisdom teeth are coming through.
What type of symptoms could I get as my wisdom teeth come through? What is the treatment?
If you get any pain, swelling, difficulty opening your mouth, swollen glands or gum/cheek irritation, it is recommended that you have your dentist check the area so that we can give sound advice on how best to manage your individual situation. We will usually obtain a full mouth radiograph (OPG) so that we can check the position of the wisdom tooth/teeth.
Management of your wisdom teeth may involve symptomatic pain relief with painkillers, instructions on how to clean your wisdom teeth with mouthwashes & brushing, and in more serious situations, antibiotics or wisdom tooth removal.
