Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to emerge, generally coming through between the ages of 17 and 25. It is estimated that 89% of the population will have one or all four wisdom teeth removed. For some, they develop without any problems or discomfort, but for others, they can create a range of complications and hence need to be extracted. The main problem is that they become impacted.

They emerge at an angle and don’t come through straight, either failing to emerge at all or only partially breaking through the gum. The impacted wisdom tooth will most likely be growing towards your healthy back teeth. The issue here is that the underside of our teeth is not protected, and the force of the wisdom teeth can damage perfectly healthy teeth.

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Wisdom Teeth Extraction in Adelaide

Not all impacted teeth cause pain, alerting you to an underlying problem. Hence, we advise starting routine large X-rays of your jaws in your late teens and early twenties, so that we can detect any issues with the development of your wisdom teeth. It’s not always possible to predict if your wisdom teeth will cause problems in the future, which is why it is highly recommended to remove them at an early age rather than later. Removing your teeth later in life can result in a longer healing and recovery period.

Care After A Wisdom Teeth Extraction

For most people, recovery generally takes a couple of days. You might experience some slight swelling and mild discomfort. We strongly recommend the following for a speedy recovery:

  • Rest at home after an extraction, regardless of whether it was a simple and easy extraction.
  • Avoid alcoholic drinks.
  • No smoking for at least the first 48 hours.
  • You may experience pain, so opt for soft foods such as soups and smoothies.
  • Drink plenty of fluids.
  • Use an ice pack to reduce any swelling or pain.
  • Keep up with your recommended pain relief and avoid aspirin, as it can cause more bleeding.

Here at MVDC, we take the utmost care to ensure you are comfortable throughout your treatment. There is no need to feel any discomfort during your procedure.

If you have any questions about your wisdom teeth extraction, please do not hesitate to contact us

If you have visited our Wisdom Teeth Extraction page you may be interested in reading more about our emergency dental treatments, tooth extractions, or restorative dental treatments.

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Wisdom Teeth Extraction FAQ’s

Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last permanent teeth to appear in the mouth.

These teeth usually appear between the ages of 17 and 25. Some people never develop wisdom teeth. For others, wisdom teeth erupt normally, just as their other molars did and cause no problems at all.

However, many people develop impacted wisdom teeth. Essentially meaning that the teeth don’t have enough room to erupt into the mouth or develop normally. Impacted wisdom teeth may erupt only partially or not at all.

An impacted wisdom tooth may:

  • Grow at an angle toward the next tooth (second molar) and destroy its roots
  • Grow at an angle toward the back of the mouth
  • Grow at a right angle to the other teeth, as if the wisdom tooth is “lying down” within the jawbone
  • Grow straight up or down like other teeth but stay trapped within the jawbone

You’ll likely need your wisdom tooth or teeth pulled if it results in problems such as:

  • Pain
  • Trapping food and debris behind the wisdom tooth
  • Infection or gum disease
  • Tooth decay in a partially erupted wisdom tooth
  • Damage to a nearby tooth or surrounding bone
  • Development of a fluid-filled sac (cyst) around the wisdom tooth
  • Complications with orthodontic treatments to straighten other teeth

A wisdom tooth extraction is almost always a same day procedure meaning you are able to go home after the surgery.

You’ll receive instructions from the hospital or dental clinic staff on what to do before the surgery and the day of your scheduled surgery. Ask these questions:

  • Will I need to make arrangements for someone to drive me home after the procedure?
  • When do I need to arrive at the dental clinic or hospital?
  • Do I need to avoid eating food or drinking fluids or both (fast)? If so, when do I begin?
  • Can I take my prescription medications before the surgery? If so, how soon before the surgery can I take a dose?
  • Should I avoid any non-prescription drugs before the surgery?

If you receive sedation anaesthesia or general anaesthesia, you’re taken to a recovery room after the procedure. If you have local anaesthesia, your brief recovery time is likely in the dental chair.

As you heal from your surgery, follow your dentist’s instructions on:

  • There may be some oozing of blood which may occur the first day after wisdom tooth removal. Try to avoid excessive spitting so that you don’t dislodge the blood clot from the socket. Replace gauze over the extraction site as directed by your dentist.
  • Pain management.You may be able to manage pain with an over-the-counter pain reliever, such Nurofen or a prescription pain medication from your dentist. Prescription pain medication may be especially helpful if bone has been removed during the procedure.

Holding a cold pack against your jaw also may relieve pain and inflammation. Along with anit-inflammatory drugs like Voltaren.

  • Swelling and bruising.Use an ice pack as directed by your dentist. The swelling of your cheeks usually improves in two or three days. Bruising may take several more days to fade.
  • After your surgery, plan to rest for the remainder of the day. Resume normal activities the next day, but for at least a week, avoid strenuous activity that might result in losing the blood clot from the socket.

Most people take a week of just to make life easier, but not always possible with work commitments.

  • Drink lots of water after the surgery. Don’t drink the following:
    • alcoholic,
    • caffeinated,
    • carbonated or
    • hot beverages in the first 24 hours.

Don’t drink with a straw for at least a week because the sucking action can dislodge the blood clot from the socket.

  • Eat only soft foods, such as yogurt, ice-cream or mash potato, for the first 24 hours. Start eating semisoft foods when you can tolerate them. Avoid hard, chewy, hot or spicy foods that might get stuck in the socket or irritate the wound.
  • Cleaning your mouth.Don’t brush your teeth, rinse your mouth, spit or use mouthwash during the first 24 hours after surgery. Typically you’ll be told to resume brushing your teeth after the first 24 hours. Be particularly gentle near the surgical wound when brushing and gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water every two hours and after meals for a week.
  • Tobacco use.If you smoke, don’t do so for at least 72 hours after surgery — and wait longer than that if possible. If you chew tobacco, don’t use it for at least a week. Using tobacco products after oral surgery will delay healing and increase the risk of complications.
  • You may have stitches that dissolve within a few weeks or no stitches at all. If your stitches need to be removed, your dentist will  schedule an appointment to have them taken out.

Call your dentist if you experience any of the following signs or symptoms, which could indicate an infection, nerve damage or other serious complication:

  • Difficulty swallowing or breathing
  • Excessive bleeding
  • Fever
  • Severe pain not relieved by prescribed pain medications
  • Swelling that worsens after two or three days
  • A bad taste in your mouth not removed with saltwater rinsing
  • Pus in or oozing from the socket
  • Persistent numbness or loss of feeling
  • Blood or pus in nasal discharge
  • Severe bad breath