Removal of Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are the last molars to erupt at each of the four corners of your mouth. Also known as the third molars, they do not appear until age of 17 or later. When erupted well, they cause no problems. Issues arise when your jaw does not have enough space for the wisdom teeth to erupt properly and thereby causing them to be impacted (stuck).
This situation makes it difficult to clean the area and food will get trapped there, leading to plaque and bacteria build-up. Eventually, tooth decay and gum disease occur.
Why do I need to have my wisdom tooth removed?
If left unchecked, tooth decay (of the wisdom tooth and/or the molar in front of it) and gum disease may cause pain and swelling. Recurrent infection may also occur as oral hygiene is hindered at the wisdom teeth area. When we at Smileworks find impacted wisdom teeth with the potential to cause such issues, you will be advised to remove them. This can be at a preventive phase when you do not feel any discomfort or at an active infection phase where there is pain or swelling.
How are wisdom teeth removed?
Not all wisdom teeth require surgical removal. An assessment will be made with clinical and radiographic examinations of the area of interest. Some cases can be extracted while some necessitate a surgery.
Removal of wisdom teeth can be done under local anaesthesia or sedation. These will be thoroughly discussed during your initial consultation.
After surgery, you may experience pain and swelling for a few days. Post-operative instructions include:
- A soft/liquid diet, so that the site of surgery is not affected by chewing
- Apply a cold compress, together with the anti-inflammatory medicine prescribed by our Specialist to help with swelling
- Take the antibiotics (if prescribed) to keep infections at bay
- Get plenty of rest – some days off work or school may be needed
- Do not smoke or drink alcohol
- Following all post-operative care instructions provided by your surgeon