Pulling Wisdom Teeth: Dealing with an Impacted Tooth
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the final set of teeth to emerge in the mouth. Typically appearing between the ages of 17 and 25, these teeth are located behind the second molars at the very back of the mouth.
While wisdom teeth were once essential for our ancestors’ diet of rough, coarse food, modern diets and smaller jaw sizes often make these teeth more of a nuisance than a help. Some people may not develop wisdom teeth at all, which can be a blessing given the common issues they can cause.
What Does it Mean to Have an Impacted Wisdom Tooth?
Wisdom teeth are the last permanent teeth to appear in your mouth. Their connotation comes from the fact that they usually erupt between the ages of 17-25, at an age when the person is thought to be “wiser”.
Not everyone gets them, and that’s normal. Whether or not you have wisdom teeth is not the problem. The dental problem only appears once the wisdom tooth becomes impacted.
This means there is not enough room in the mouth to accommodate these extra teeth growing in. This lack of space usually leads to the tooth not growing correctly, sometimes even growing into the surrounding teeth.
This impaction can cause pain and significant problems for both your mouth and jawbone, so dentists recommend the removal of wisdom teeth that have been impacted, and to get this done as soon as possible to avoid any further problems.
Types of Wisdom Teeth Impaction
Impacted wisdom teeth come in four different types; not all of these types always lead to problems and need removal:
Vertical Impaction
This is where the impacted tooth is oriented nearly vertically, just like the rest of the teeth. This type still has a chance to erupt correctly and may not always need to be removed.
Mesial Impaction
This is the most common type of impact. It occurs when the tooth grows on an angle, angled towards the front of the tooth beside it. This puts pressure on and pushes into the molar beside it. Mesial impaction often leaves the wisdom tooth half-erupted, with only the crown visible, as there is no space for it to erupt fully.
Distal Impaction
This is the least common type of the four. It’s almost the opposite of mesial impaction, where the wisdom tooth, in this case, is angled towards the back of the teeth. In this case, there is still a chance that the tooth may erupt properly, depending on its angle.
Horizontal Impaction
This last type of impaction is the most painful. Upper wisdom teeth are generally easier to remove than lower ones, but if impacted, they can still cause significant pain and complications.
Horizontal impaction means that the impacted tooth is growing directly towards the molar beside it, pushing into it. The tooth is not visible, so it requires a dental X-ray to see properly. This type of impaction often needs an oral surgeon to remove it and, in some extreme cases, may require the removal of some parts of the jawbone.
If you have one or more of the above symptoms, book a visit to see your dentist right away for the removal of these wisdom teeth, so we can help you get this sorted before it gets any worse.
Signs That You May Have Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Since there isn’t an exact age at which the wisdom teeth will appear, and they don’t always appear for everyone, it can be hard to determine whether the dental pain you’re feeling is caused by impaction.
If you’re thinking that you may be experiencing an impacted wisdom tooth, consider whether you have experienced any of the following signs:
Toothache in the back area of your mouth or in the molars;
Swelling in the jaw area where the tooth is;
Sensitive, swollen, or even bleeding gums;
Difficulty opening your mouth, or pain when trying to.
Problems with Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Impacted wisdom teeth occur when there isn’t enough room in the jaw for these teeth to emerge properly. This can lead to a host of problems, including pain, infection, and damage to nearby teeth. When wisdom teeth are impacted, they can push against other teeth, causing crowding and misalignment.
This crowding can make it challenging to maintain good oral hygiene, sometimes leading to tooth decay and gum disease. In more severe cases, impacted wisdom teeth can form cysts or tumours around the affected area, which can cause further complications and require more extensive treatment.
When to Remove Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth removal is often recommended when they pose a risk of infection, discomfort, or other dental issues. If your wisdom teeth are impacted and causing pain or discomfort or if they are difficult to clean, it may be time to consider removal.
Dentists sometimes recommend removing wisdom teeth as a preventative measure, even if they aren’t currently causing problems. This is particularly true for individuals with a history of dental issues, such as frequent tooth decay or gum disease, as removing wisdom teeth can help prevent future complications.
Effective Solutions for Impacted Wisdom Teeth Removal
Removing your wisdom tooth is the most common long-term solution when there is not enough space in the jaw for them.
Wisdom teeth extraction is a standard procedure and can vary in complexity depending on the position and condition of the teeth. Removing an impacted wisdom tooth is more complicated than a single-tooth extraction, so our dentists use a panoramic X-ray to examine the area carefully beforehand.
We do this to determine how deep the tooth has grown into your jaw, and to decide on the correct surgical technique that will lead to minimal impact and fast recovery times.
If Ignored
Ignoring an impacted wisdom tooth can create a crowded jaw. If your wisdom teeth are fighting for room, they will often grow, pushing into your surrounding teeth, which can shift your front teeth. This can cause misalignments in your teeth and changes to your bite.
As wisdom teeth grow, they can partially erupt, leading to complications such as pericoronitis or decay. Impacted wisdom teeth may cause problems such as jaw pain, infections, tooth decay, and even a swollen face.
This can often create inaccessible pockets (sometimes gum flaps) between your teeth, where diseases thrive. Unfortunately, this means that usual brushing and flossing may not be able to reach them, so they cannot get cleaned properly, which may lead to a range of other costly and painful dental complications.
Before And After Care
If you have the above signs and are experiencing dental pain, we recommend you visit us immediately so we can start working on a solution for you.
This may mean that you will need to get the impacted wisdom tooth removed. If you are experiencing pain in the meantime, we have a few simple solutions to help alleviate some of the pain in the short term:
Gargle using an antiseptic mouthwash, or if unavailable, dissolve ½ tablespoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Rinse your mouth with this (use the entire glass, if possible).
Apply an ice pack on the swollen jaw to minimise the swelling on your way to the clinic.
If you wish to take a pain reliever, it is important not to put it directly on the affected area as this can cause a chemical burn. Don’t give pain relievers to those below 18, or those who are pregnant.
After the wisdom tooth removal, your dentist may prescribe you antibiotics and other measures. After the surgery, it is important to follow these self-care tips:
Avoid strenuous activities: We recommend you take a day off from work or school to recover. Avoid driving or lifting heavy objects while you are still recovering.
Avoid drinking or smoking: It is important that while you are still recovering, you strictly avoid drinking or smoking, as per your dentists’ instructions, as it can lead to complications or infections.
Avoid damaging the area: For the first 24 hours after the procedure, avoid spitting, rinsing, or any activity that may dislodge the blood clots forming in the area.
Safe and Pain-Free Wisdom Tooth Extraction at Platinum Smile Dentist Mandurah
At Platinum Smile Dentist Mandurah, our wisdom teeth removal procedure is designed to be pain-free, with options for local anaesthetic or IV sedation. We also use the latest dental equipment to ensure the procedure remains as safe and painless as possible.
Get in touch today to book an examination of your wisdom teeth. Call us or visit our clinic in Mandurah!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do all wisdom teeth need to be removed?
No, not all wisdom teeth need to be removed.
However, if you have been experiencing ongoing, recurrent discomfort, pain or swelling, you may have to have wisdom teeth removed. This will help alleviate the pain and leave you feeling much more comfortable.
Is it better to have wisdom teeth removed earlier or later in life?
It is better to have your troublesome wisdom teeth removed earlier in life. This is because you heal better at younger ages due to good blood circulation, and wisdom teeth are easier to remove when your jawbone is soft and supple in youth.
An ideal time to have wisdom teeth removed is between 18-25 years of age when they start to develop. If they are impacted or causing problems, it is best to get them out of the way so the rest of your teeth have more room to grow into place properly.
What can we do about impacted wisdom teeth?
Removing wisdom teeth is the long-term solution if there is not enough space in the jaw for them to come through normally.
Because removing impacted wisdom teeth is more complicated than a single-tooth extraction, a panoramic X-ray (OPG) is needed first to examine the area carefully. This type of X-ray shows much more detail than a standard dental X-ray.
At Platinum Smile Dentist Mandurah, you have the option of having your wisdom teeth removed in-chair awake under local anaesthetic or asleep under IV sedation (intravenous).
What is the cost of wisdom teeth removal?
The cost of pulling wisdom teeth may vary depending on the severity of your impacted teeth. Factors that may affect the price include the complexity of the procedure, the type of impaction you are experiencing, and the extent of impaction.
If your impacted teeth are stuck in the jawbone and difficult to remove, the price may be higher, as these cases require more complex and lengthy procedures. However, if the tooth has surfaced and is easier to reach, the procedure will be less expensive in comparison.
Book a consultation with your dentist to assess the severity of your impacted wisdom teeth, and we can work to find a cost-effective solution for you. We also offer a range of options to help you pay for the procedure, including Denticare, After Pay, and Super Care.
How much time off school/work do I need for recovery?
2-3 days off is recommended for standard removal, 7-10 days for surgical removal.
We recommend that you take the pain relief and medication your dentist provides. This will keep you comfortable during your recovery and promote a faster healing process.
Can I be asleep for the procedure?
Yes, of course you can. If you’re feeling anxious about the procedure and would rather be asleep, we’d be more than happy to help you stay as comfortable as possible while visiting us. We have many resources available to help you, and solutions are available to ease any anxiety.
To help you go to sleep for the removal procedure, a medical doctor can be arranged to administer IV sedation on the day of your procedure, and all the work can be done at our Mandurah clinic rather than you having to go to a hospital.
What is IV sedation?
During IV sedation (also known as twilight sedation), you are put into a sleep-like state. It isn’t as deep as general anaesthesia and, therefore, carries less risk. You will be aware of what is happening, but it will not disturb or worry you, nor will you remember any of the procedure.
A fully qualified medical doctor comes out to the clinic to administer the IV sedative to induce this sleep-like state. They will stay throughout the procedure, monitoring your well-being at all times.
Call the clinic on (08) 9534 7946 for an appointment to discuss your troublesome wisdom teeth, sedation dentistry, or if you are just looking for a check-up with a good dentist in Mandurah.
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All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. Contact us for more information. Rebates may vary depending on your individual health fund.