Wisdom teeth are usually the last teeth to come through, this can happen any time from the age of 16 years onwards.Often there is not enough space for the wisdom teeth and this often requires them to be surgically removed. A large jaw x-ray (OPG) is often required before treatment to assess the position of the wisdom teeth.
- Infection/Pain
- Food Trappin
- Crowding
- Cyst
- Difficulty opening mouth and swallowing
- Fever
During the consultation with the surgeon, the OPG will be assessed, and the angle and formation of the wisdom tooth/teeth will be discussed. Wisdom teeth are broken down into 3 categories, fully impacted, partially erupted and fully erupted.
The surgeon will discuss the options of tooth extraction using local anaesthetic or referring them to the hospital to have the, taken out under general anaesthetic.
Fully Impacted (completely under gum)- This is when there is no room for the tooth to come out. It is usually at an angle and pushing into the tooth adjacent to it. Impacted wisdom teeth are the most difficult to remove.
Partially erupted Wisdom Teeth – When the tooth partially comes through the gum, it can become difficult to clean as a part of the tooth remains covered with a flap of gum. Food can get caught in the gap between the tooth and gum, causing cavities and/or gum inflammation.
Fully erupted Wisdom Teeth – If grown through completely your wisdom teeth may not need to be extracted if they are not causing any problems. The best thing to do is monitor them and ensure your toothbrush reaches them when you clean your teeth.
