There are few oral health problems as painful or disruptive as the development of impacted wisdom teeth. And it is a prevalent enough problem that wisdom teeth removal by an oral surgeon is one of the most common surgical procedures carried out in the UK. Do you need wisdom teeth removal? Here is what you should know about these teeth and the procedure:
What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the last to develop in the very back of the mouth, often emerging when a patient reaches their mid-twenties. They are also known as third molars and patients can have none or four. While useful to prehistoric humans who often lost adult teeth, today wisdom teeth are almost unnecessary and very often problematic.
Why do oral surgeons remove wisdom teeth so often?
Wisdom teeth do not always require removal. But too often there is simply not enough space for them to erupt correctly and complications often arise. Nine out of ten people have at least one impacted wisdom tooth, a tooth that gets stuck under the gum, only partially breaks through, or grows out of alignment. Impacted wisdom teeth are notorious for causing pain and other complications ranging from mild to severe.
What are some dangers of impacted wisdom teeth?
Aside from pain, impacted wisdom teeth can also cause:
- Swelling around the jaw
- Headaches
- Damage to adjacent teeth
- Cysts and tumors
- Nerve damage
- Pressure on back molars
- Crowding of other teeth
- Infection in the overlying tissue
What to address before surgery?
When you meet with the oral surgeon it is important to understand the process. At the initial consultation, you should be sure you talk about any current allergies or health problems you may have. You should also list the drugs you take on a regular basis and discuss any dental anxiety and the type of anesthesia you will have. During a consultation appointment, the surgeon will also take x-rays to determine the location of wisdom teeth, level of impaction, and difficulty of removal. Then they will discuss the surgical procedure and how you might prepare for the appointment.
How are wisdom teeth removed?
A typical surgery will take 45 minutes or less, but appointment times will vary based on the number and location of wisdom teeth. For a straightforward extraction, the surgeon will use local anesthesia like Novocain, Lidocaine, or Mepivicaine to numb the areas around wisdom teeth. They may also use nitrous oxide to help you relax or doze a little during surgery. For more complex removals, the surgeon will use IV sedation or general anesthesia to put you out so you will sleep during the entire procedure.
Once the area is numb and the patient is comfortable, the surgeon will go to work. It might be necessary to make an incision in the gum if the tooth has not erupted. Then the surgeon will proceed to widen the tooth socket by rocking the tooth back and forth. If the tooth does not come out wholly, the surgeon will section and remove the wisdom teeth. Once teeth are out, the surgeon will clean and disinfect the area and complete the surgery by placing any necessary stitches.
What are the possible risks and complications?
As with all surgical procedures, there are some risks associated with wisdom tooth removal. Infection and delayed healing are both possible and more likely with poor oral hygiene. Dry socket, or dislodging of the natural blood clot, is another complication. This is why it is so important to carefully follow aftercare instructions. There is another risk of nerve damage with temporary or more permanent numbness in the tongue, lower lip, teeth, or gums, but this is rare.
What are the alternatives to wisdom teeth removal?
Not all wisdom teeth require removal and there may be no urgent need to extract them. That said, if wisdom teeth remain in the mouth, they will need to be carefully monitored. And if wisdom teeth cause pain, it may come and go, but the problem will not disappear without treatment. If the surgeon fears a high risk of nerve damage, one alternative may be a coronectomy where the surgeon removes the crown but leaves the root in place to reduce the chances of damage. Otherwise, full extraction is really the only option.
What is post-surgery care?
Recovery after wisdom tooth extraction could take a couple of days, so you want to plan time off from work or school.
After surgery, it is important to rest and recover. For the first few hours after surgery, it is important to avoid eating or drinking and to keep pressure on the sites to promote proper healing. Cold compresses and pain medication can help lessen any discomfort or swelling. Later, you will need to be conscious of what you eat, favoring softer foods that will not irritate the surgical sites. It is also important to avoid smoking, alcohol, and hot drinks for a minimum of 24 hours. Do not drink from a straw until sites are properly healed.
Wisdom teeth removal by an oral surgeon is an important consideration. Don’t wait. Start talking with a dental professional about steps in wisdom tooth care early, preferably before the wisdom teeth begin to erupt.
Why is Dentique the right place to remove your wisdom teeth in Leicester?
At Dentique dental practice you will be seen by a dentist with a special interest in oral surgery. Every case will be evaluated individually and if the surgeon decides we can take a CBCT scan which is a three dimensional image of your wisdom tooth crown and roots. Depending on the difficulty the dentists at Dentique will recommend the right surgical approach to get rid of your wisdom tooth. Few practices in Leicester possess the 3D scan which will give the full picture of your wisdom tooth infection and will make the extraction procedure smooth, easy and pain-free
FAQ about wisom teeth removal in Leicester
Can I have my wisdom teeth removed in the Dentique dental surgery or I have to go to Glenfield, Royal or General hospital in Leicester?
We can have your wisdom tooth extracted in our surgery with local anaesthetic. You don’t have to go to the Leicester hospitals to have it removed. Of course this remains a choice of yours
How do you remove the wisdom teeth at Dentique. Is it going to be painful?
The procedure is painless but the post-operative period will be associated with aching. This is why the surgeon will prescribe antibiotics and pain killers for the days after the procedure. This will ensure satisfactory healing and pain free experience. We remove the wisdom teeth in the practice with local anaesthetic and sometimes dental sedation.
Can I go to Leicester A&E service and have my wisdom teeth extracted there?
We are afraid the Leicester emergency service in Glenfield hospital and Royal Infirmary do not remove wisdom teeth. Doctors will however give you pain killers and antibiotics and refer you to your dentist or maxillofacial department in the hospital. But they will not remove your wisdom tooth on the day of the emergency.
