Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery/Wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth removal is usually the last resort

The majority of the population will grow wisdom teeth during their lifetime and sometimes, due to the lack of space in our mouths, wisdom teeth can grow in awkward positions leading to pain and discomfort. In addition, wisdom teeth can also have many negative implications on our mouth, leading to them needing to be removed. For some people, wisdom teeth grow in the mouth with no problems and in other cases they do not emerge at all however a significant number of the population suffer with complications as a result of their wisdom teeth beginning to appear.

As wisdom teeth emerge through the gums, these areas are more susceptible to gum disease, cellulitis, abscesses and decay. This can lead to the teeth requiring removal so as to avoid further complications and infection.

3d rendered illustration of the wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth removal is usually the last resort. For the majority of problems that wisdom teeth cause, antibiotics and other treatments can be prescribed and usually these will help. However, in cases which they do not, it will be important to have wisdom teeth removed.

During your initial consultation with one of our expert specialists, they will be able to assess the situation and advise you on whether it is necessary for the wisdom teeth to be removed. Usually, a dental x-ray will be taken in order to best understand the growth and position of the teeth in the gums and better understand how the wisdom teeth are impacting your dental health. It is usually advised that wisdom teeth are removed in late teens and early 20s as they start developing because this allows a less complicated removal as the teeth are less developed. However, anyone at any age can have their wisdom teeth removed.

Due to the nature of the procedure, wisdom teeth removal does have the capability to cause some complications with your dental health and gums, particularly those who are frequent smokers. As the wound begins to heal, risk of infection is high and those individuals who smoke are more susceptible to infection as the site is not kept sterile and clean. Infection can occur in anyone however and following wisdom teeth removal this can be common. It is important to keep the area clean using specific mouthwash which will be recommended by your surgeon.

Wisdom teeth can have a variety of implications on different individuals. Due to the emergence of these teeth later on, they must move into the mouth around the other teeth and there is not always space for them. As a result, the wisdom teeth can grow at strange angles and can lead to severe pain as well as a range of other problems including infections and abscesses. In the case of negative implications on your health, it will be advised that your wisdom teeth are removed if other recommended treatments fail to work. If they are causing serious infection and other problems, it will be important to have them removed to ensure no further problems occur which could have more serious implications on your health.

During the wisdom teeth removal procedure, incisions are made in the gums surrounding wisdom teeth allowing your surgeon to effectively and safely remove the wisdom teeth. Once these teeth are lifted from their sockets the site will be cleaned and then stitched using dissolvable sutures.

Following wisdom teeth removal, it is important to ensure you avoid any strenuous activity for the first week in order to allow the site to optimally heal so as to avoid any further complications. Pain relivers and other medications may be prescribed to provide pain relief and eliminate risk of infection. The area may be swollen for the first few days following surgery however this can be relieved using ice. Any food should be soft for the first 2 weeks so as not to disrupt the stiches and wounds, allowing them to completely heal. Usually, after the first 4 days you will feel almost healed however the gums will not have completely healed at this time so some discomfort may still be felt in addition to some swelling.

Procedure Overview

Surgical procedure to remove wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth can have many negative implications on your health and livelihood
Some people do not grow wisdom teeth
You can have some or all of your wisdom teeth removed depending on the problems each cause
Typical procedure takes around 1 hour to complete
It is important to keep the area clean following surgery to avoid infection
Typical procedure costs between £150 and £300
You will have an initial consultation with an expert specialist in this area

close up asian middle aged man feeling hurt from toothache symptom , unhealthy life concept

During your wisdom teeth removal procedure, you will be given local anaesthetic and therefore no pain or discomfort will be felt during the procedure. Following wisdom teeth removal, the area is likely to be quite painful and uncomfortable as it begins to heal however this can be controlled with prescribed painkillers and applying ice to the affected area. After 2 weeks following surgery, the area should be more comfortable, and any pain or discomfort should begin to alleviate as the area heals.

A typical wisdom teeth removal procedure takes around 1 hour to complete however this will vary depending on how many teeth are removed and the complexity of the removal.

Once wisdom teeth are removed, they cannot return and therefore results from wisdom teeth removal are permanent. However, some people can have more than 4 wisdom teeth and so following removal it is possible for another to emerge however this is another tooth.

The price for extracting wisdom teeth starts from approximately £520 which includes both consultant and facility fees. The total cost will be confirmed following the initial consultation.

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Wisdom teeth

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