Wisdom Teeth
WISDOM TEETH
Generally, we have two molars at the end of each quadrant of our mouth. Wisdom teeth are the last set of molars after these two molars, which only start to erupt at the age of 16 and 18. For most of us, we have between one to four wisdom teeth while some people may have none. Wisdom teeth that are properly positioned and healthy, do not cause any problems.
However, in some cases when the wisdom teeth are not properly positioned or not fully erupted, that is when problems arise.
Common Problems for Wisdom Teeth
- Impacted (stuck) against the bone, gums or adjacent teeth
- Formation of cysts
- Food trap
- Infection
- Swell
- Pain
- Tooth decay of the adjacent tooth
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An impacted wisdom tooth refers to a tooth that did not fully emerge into its ideal position. Most of the people experiencing this problem do not have enough space in the jaw for the wisdom tooth to erupt, thus leading it to be stuck in the jaw.
Food trapped is the most common problem for an impacted wisdom tooth. When food gets trapped around an impacted wisdom tooth and it cannot be cleaned properly, it will lead to infection and swelling in the gums. Pain starts to kick in and the tooth adjacent to the wisdom tooth may be affected and develop decay.
If you have any above-mentioned problems with wisdom teeth, we recommend you consult a dentist and consider removing them to prevent more problems to arise in the future.
Through a thorough examination conducted and X-rays taken, patients get to understand their current dental condition, and our dentists can recommend suitable treatment options.
When is the best time to remove wisdom teeth?
It is recommended to remove the wisdom teeth as early as possible, usually in their early twenties when the jawbone and wisdom teeth's roots are not fully developed yet. The rate of healing is also much faster for younger patients.
How do you know if it is an extraction or surgery?
You may want to know if you will be going through extraction or your wisdom tooth needs a surgery instead. You need to take a full mouth dental X-ray so that the dentist can determine if your wisdom tooth (teeth) require(s) extraction or surgery.
Extraction vs surgery depends on these factors:
- The amount of space available
- Root morphology
- Level of impaction
Comfortable and stress-free option is available!
In life, we have many memories. We want to remember the good ones while there are some that we do not wish to remember. Going through a wisdom tooth surgery is one of those that you may not want to remember.
Many people get stressed out even thinking about going through the removal of their wisdom teeth, fearing to hear the sounds of the equipment to the pressure exerted during the surgery. We totally understand that.
In Smile Design Dental Practice, we offer you an option to undergo the removal of your wisdom tooth (teeth) in a stress-free manner. The option of sedation is available. We are an accredited day surgery center where we carry out dental procedures and surgeries under sedation. With a surgeon and an anesthetist present throughout the treatment, we ensure you with safety and comfort.
Procedures of Wisdom Tooth Extraction or Surgery
- Initial Consultation and Assessment
- a thorough oral examination is conducted and X-Ray is taken to determine the treatment
- Preparation
- A local anesthetic is administered to numb the surrounding tissues while nervous patients can request for a sedation. Sedation is done by our anesthetist. After the sedation and treatment procedure, you can rest in our Sedation Recovery Room until you are fit enough to leave.
- Extraction or Surgery
- If the wisdom tooth has fully erupted, only extraction is required. However if the wisdom tooth is impacted or did not fully erupt, then minor surgery is recommended. An incision is made on the gums, allowing the wisdom tooth to be taken out. Stitches are put in place to hold the gums together through the healing period.
- Post - Operative Period
- The duration of the healing process largely depends on the general health of the patient, the degree of infection (if any) prior to the procedure and the accessibility of the wisdom tooth. Swelling and mild discomfort is normal and expected, and it can be well managed by the medication prescribed to you. Soft diet is recommended to encourage the healing at the affected area.
- Review - We will schedule you a review with our doctor to make sure that your wound is recovering well.
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