Wisdom Teeth Extractions

Wisdom teeth are the molars (back teeth) that come through last and furthest back in your mouth, usually in your late teens or early 20s. This is a normal part of mouth development. There are normally four wisdom teeth – two in the upper jaw and two in the lower jaw – but some people have more, fewer, or even none at all.

Some wisdom teeth erupt (emerge through the gum) without causing any problems, but sometimes, wisdom teeth come through at an angle and push into the gum or the tooth beside them. This is called impaction.

Impaction of a wisdom tooth can be painful and sometimes causes infection. Brushing these teeth can be difficult. Food and bacteria can get stuck between the wisdom tooth and the tooth next to it, leading to tooth decay and gum infections called pericoronitis.

Crowded wisdom teeth often lean sideways and rub against the cheek. This may cause ulcers on the cheek and chewing problems.

Your oral health professional may recommend that your wisdom teeth be removed if:

• there is not enough room in your mouth for your wisdom teeth to come through properly – removing a tooth early may help prevent a future problem

• you are experiencing:

  • pain

  • infection

  • damage to other teeth.

They may also recommend keeping a watch on the tooth in case it looks like causing problems later.

If your wisdom teeth need to be taken out, you may need local anaesthetic, intravenous sedation or general anaesthesia so you won’t feel it. If your wisdom teeth are deeply impacted (blocked from coming through) and difficult to remove, or for other medical reasons, you may be offered only general anaesthetic.