At Tindale Dental Centre in Penrith, we regularly treat dental patients experiencing toothache and other issues associated with the arrival of wisdom teeth.
What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the teeth at the very back of your mouth (otherwise known as “third molars”). These teeth are usually the last teeth to come through the gums and tend to arrive or erupt in our late teens or early twenties. Most people have four wisdom teeth and in many cases, there is not enough room at the rear of the jaws to accommodate these new teeth. As such, wisdom teeth can become impacted, cause toothaches and pain, grown in the wrong direction and cause other dental issues with the surrounding established teeth.
In many cases, one or more wisdom teeth may cause an issue and may need to be removed. Wisdom teeth removal is a common procedure the experienced dental team at Tindale Dental Centre deal with and in each instance, the options for how and when to best remove wisdom teeth will be discussed and determined with each individual patient. It may be advised that the procedure be carried out as soon as possible to avoid problems getting worse.
Our local family Penrith Dentists will advise the best way to proceed, often recommending IV Sedation to ensure a comfortable experience.
So, what may be involved in the wisdom teeth removal procedure?
Prior to the removal procedure, oral x-rays will be taken to determine the placement of the wisdom teeth, the type of extraction required and most appropriate anesthesia to be used.
Once the appropriate anesthesia has been applied, your dentist may make a small incision to open your gums and expose the wisdom tooth.
A small portion of the bone may have to be removed so your dentist can get to the tooth or the tooth may need to be divided into sections so it can be removed easily and safely.
Once fully accessible, the wisdom tooth will be extracted.
The incision in your gums may have to be closed with dissolvable stitches (these will fall out, painlessly after a few days).
The procedure length and recovery time will depend on the individual tooth and the difficulty of the surgery.
It may take up to two weeks to fully recover from wisdom teeth removal. Looking after the wound properly may help it heal as quickly as possible. Your Penrith Dentist will advise you on what to expect and what you can do to help the recovery process, reduce swelling and avoid further dental pain.
For more information regarding wisdom teeth removal, and other tooth extraction, please contact the team at Tindale Dental Centre in Penrith on (02) 4726 5400.