A Guide to Wisdom Teeth

When the wisdom teeth struggle to emerge, they can cause lots of problems for your oral health and your jaw. This can lead to secondary issues, such as headaches and neck pain. They can also lead to infections and cause damage to surrounding teeth by emerging at an angle.

In this guide, we’re looking at common problems we see with wisdom teeth and what can be done about it. The wisdom teeth are the most commonly removed teeth, so we’re also looking at the extraction procedure and how long you can expect to take to recover.

When do wisdom teeth usually emerge?

Normally wisdom teeth appear when you are between 17 and 25 but sometimes they come later. Generally, adults have between 28 and 32 teeth but sometimes a person’s jaw can be too small to accommodate all the teeth so this is why wisdom teeth don’t always come through properly.

Not everybody experiences problems with wisdom teeth and often they come through with no issues. Even those who don’t have issues with their wisdom teeth when they emerge might choose to have them removed if there is the risk of jaw alignment problems. It can also be helpful to have them removed if you are thinking about orthodontic treatment, as it can create space for your teeth to move.

What problems are associated with wisdom teeth?

The most common issues occur when the teeth try to emerge. If there isn’t enough space in the jaw, the tooth becomes impacted. This is when there is no room in the mouth for the wisdom tooth to come through and it will get stuck against the tooth in front of it.

Usually, the wisdom tooth will grow at an angle and this is when it’s described as impacted. If the problem can’t be rectified, then the best course of action is to have the wisdom tooth removed.

If the tooth emerges partially, this can lead to problems such as pericoronitis. This is when the wisdom tooth appears through the gum but some of it still remains covered. This can result in sore and swollen gums and can become painful to clean. This tends to be a temporary problem and can be treated with mouthwashes and antibiotics if it’s particularly painful.

Is removing wisdom teeth difficult?

This largely depends on the position and the shape of the roots. An X-ray will show how difficult it is likely to be and in particularly awkward cases, you may need to be referred to a specialist oral surgeon at a dental hospital.

Most wisdom teeth cases are fairly straightforward and can be dealt with by your dentist. Local anaesthetic or sedation would be recommended for the procedure. If you need to go to a dental hospital, then a general anaesthetic may be used.

The main problem with wisdom teeth removal is that it is often necessary to remove two or even four teeth. This can extend the healing time as it takes a greater toll on the body. Thankfully, once the teeth are removed, they will no longer cause any problems. You might find that your symptoms such as headaches and earache subside once your teeth are removed.

Will I experience pain after the wisdom tooth is removed?

The level of discomfort will largely depend on how easy it was to remove it. Generally, there will be some swelling and discomfort for a few days afterwards. Using mouthwashes will assist with this and painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen will help as well.

In some cases, you may need some stitches to help the gum heal and in these instances, it is usual for your dentist to see you again about a week later to check the progress of your healing and remove any stitches. Avoiding alcohol and smoking is recommended for 24 hours after any treatment.

Most people will be fully recovered around 7-10 days after their wisdom tooth removal. It’s a good idea to take it easy in the days following your treatment. You’ll need to avoid strenuous exercise and might want to take a day off work while you rest and recover.

It’s also a good idea to switch to a diet of soft and easy to eat food. This could include mashed potato, scrambled eggs, smoothies, soup, beans and yoghurt. You should avoid drinking from a straw while you recover, as this can cause your extraction site to start bleeding.

How do I know if my wisdom teeth are impacted?

If you have pain in the teeth at the back of your mouth, this could be a sign that your wisdom teeth are impacted. You might also notice that your gums bleed when you brush them. Partially emerged wisdom teeth will often leave a foul taste in your mouth and you may have bad breath.

Less obvious signs of issues with your wisdom teeth include pain in your jaw and a clicking sensation when you open and close your mouth. You might also have the feeling like your top and bottom jaw don’t fit together correctly.

If you often have headaches or neck aches that you cannot explain, this could also be a sign that your wisdom teeth are causing issues. A trip to the dentist can help to confirm if your wisdom teeth need to be removed.

A simple X-ray is all that is needed to check on the status of your teeth and confirm if your wisdom teeth are emerging correctly or if there are likely to be some issues. For more advice about the treatment of wisdom teeth, please contact us now.