Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth grow at the back of the mouth, next to the molars, and tend to surface in the late teens or twenties.
Wisdom teeth sometimes do not come all the way through (partly erupt) and get stuck against nearby teeth or bone. This can leave a flap of gum covering part of the tooth.
Why You Might Need Wisdom Teeth Removal
There are numerous reasons why a patient may require wisdom teeth removal. This can be because the wisdom tooth has been blocked by a molar or bone, gum disease, or infection among others.Patients can experience severe pain due to an infection and will require a wisdom tooth (or teeth) to be removed.
Some of the benefits include:
- Reduced pain and discomfort
- Reduced risk of infection spreading
- Enables other teeth to be repositioned
What Does Wisdom Teeth Removal Involve?
The surgeon will make an incision to the gum to uncover the tooth and will then remove the bone around the tooth. Once the bone has been extracted, the tooth will then be divided with a drill.
Upper wisdom teeth are easier to remove, and the procedure can be performed under local anaesthetic, while lower wisdom teeth are more difficult and your surgeon may suggest sedation – general anaesthetic can also be used.
After the operation stitches will be used to close the gum, which may be dissolvable. The procedure can last anywhere between 10 minutes to an hour, dependent on the difficulty of the surgery.
Recovery
Usually, patients can leave the hospital the same day of surgery but may be required to stay overnight if sedation was required. You may experience pain for a couple of days post-surgery, and gum tissue will take between three and four weeks to heal completely.
The bone can take as long as six months to heal completely following a tooth extraction.
Consultants that perform this procedure
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