Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth often erupt between the ages of 17 and 25, causing discomfort. Problems can arise when they come through at an odd angle or there isn’t enough room in the mouth. Also, partially erupted or misaligned wisdom teeth can lead to recurring infections and subsequent damage to the surrounding jaw and teeth.

Removing wisdom teeth is a common procedure and, in most cases, done by our experienced dentists at the clinic. More complex cases may be referred to a specialist to ensure the best result and your comfort.

What are wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth are located in the four back corners of your mouth. They usually erupt around the ages of 17 to 25, much later than your other adult teeth. They are so called because they come through when a person is either finishing high school or attending university, a time of life when one (supposedly) gains much wisdom.

Why should I have my wisdom teeth removed?

• Lack of room in the mouth
• Coming through at an odd angle
• Partially erupted (causing infection)

Wisdom teeth complications

Wisdom teeth can cause pain when there is a lack of room in the mouth or if they come through at an odd angle. Misaligned or partially erupted wisdom teeth can also lead to recurring infections and damage to the surrounding jaw and teeth.

Complications can include:

Wisdom tooth pain: Erupting wisdom teeth are often preceded by pain in the back of the mouth. It may be mild and intermittent, continuing for a few days and then subsiding. It can happen for a few weeks or even years. If the pain makes eating and talking unbearable, please book in to see your dentist. The pain could be caused by the wisdom teeth pressing into the nerves in the mouth.

Redness and swelling: Swelling and redness in the gums around the back of the mouth can also signal the eruption of wisdom teeth.

Shifting teeth: Wisdom teeth are bullies. If there’s a lack of room for them, they’ll come through regardless, shifting other teeth out of the way and causing misaligned and crooked teeth. If your dentist thinks there won’t be enough room for your wisdom teeth, they may advise having them removed ahead of time to negate this issue.

Impacted tooth: On occasion, your jawbone or other teeth can stop wisdom teeth from erupting, causing them to be trapped beneath the gum line. This can cause pain and will need to be attended to by your dentist.

X-rays will expose any issues with impacted teeth ahead of time. Your dentist will usually advise the removal of impacted wisdom teeth before they begin to erupt so you don’t experience this discomfort.

Oral infections: When your wisdom teeth emerge and break through the gum, bacteria can become trapped and cause infection. Signs of this include:

• Swelling
• Redness
• Pain
• Tenderness in your jaw
• Bad breath
• A foul taste

Cavities: cavities can form when food becomes trapped around the emerging back molars. They can also form in the teeth next to the back molars if there isn’t enough space to adequately brush and floss. Make sure to brush and floss carefully when your wisdom teeth are erupting.

How are they removed?

The removal of wisdom teeth is a common procedure, and most cases are performed by our experienced dentists at the clinic.

Some cases are more complex and may be referred to a specialist to ensure your comfort and the best result. Conveniently, we have a specialist visit the clinic on occasion.

For some people, the idea of any dental procedure can bring about stress and anxiety. If you’d prefer to have your wisdom teeth removed while you are asleep, we can assist in arranging this.

Should wisdom teeth be removed if they aren’t causing problems?

If your wisdom teeth aren’t causing you any pain or discomfort, they can simply be monitored at your twice yearly dental check-up. At these general appointments, we can check if they’re erupting and determine the likelihood of any issues arising.

Because they often arrive when we’re concentrating on study and exams, it can be a wise choice to have wisdom teeth removed ahead of time so complications don’t arise when we need to be focused.

Ready to make an appointment? Booking is easy! Book online or call the friendly Fernvale Dental team on 07 5427 0880.