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Wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth are molars which are the last adult teeth to develop in the mouth. Most people have four wisdom teeth at the back of the mouth — 1 in each corner.

They usually start to appear in gums in late teens, early twenties, but it can also be quite common to appear later. By this time, there are already 28 adult teeth in the mouth and so the development of wisdom teeth can often be impacted by restricted space, causing problems as they grow. Wisdom teeth can sometimes emerge at an angle or get stuck and only partially emerge. Teeth that grow through like this are known as impacted.

When to see a Oakmead Dental Care dentist

Impacted wisdom teeth don't always cause symptoms. However, when an impacted wisdom tooth becomes infected, damages other teeth or causes other dental problems, you may experience some of these signs or symptoms:

Red or swollen gums
Tender or bleeding gums
Jaw pain
Swelling around the jaw
Bad breath
An unpleasant taste in your mouth
Difficulty opening your mouth

As with any teeth problems, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms it's important to book an appointment at Oakmead Dental Care to see a dentist as soon as possible, rather than waiting for routine dental health review.

What can I do to help relieve the discomfort of wisdom teeth?

A mouthwash of medium-hot water with a teaspoonful of salt will help to reduce gum soreness and inflammation. Swish the salt water around the tooth, trying to get into the areas your toothbrush cannot reach. Do this several times a day.

An antibacterial mouthwash containing chlorhexidine can also reduce the inflammation. Pain-relieving tablets such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can also be useful in the short term, but talk to us at Oakmead Dental Care if the pain continues.

Why are wisdom teeth removed?

If your wisdom teeth are impacted but not causing any problems, you don't usually need to be remove them. This is because there's no proven benefit of doing this and it carries the risk of complications.

Sometimes, wisdom teeth that have become impacted or haven't fully broken through the surface of the gum can cause dental problems. Food and bacteria can get trapped around the edge of the wisdom teeth, causing a build-up of plaque, which can lead to several problems in the mouth:

  • Damage to other teeth. If the wisdom tooth pushes against the second molar, it may damage the second molar or increase the risk of infection in that area. This pressure can also cause problems with crowding of the other teeth or require orthodontic treatment to straighten other teeth.
  • Cysts. The wisdom tooth develops in a sac within the jawbone. The sac can fill with fluid, forming a cyst that can damage the jawbone, teeth and nerves.
  • Decay. Partially impacted wisdom teeth appear to be at higher risk of tooth decay than other teeth. This probably occurs because wisdom teeth are harder to clean and because food and bacteria get easily trapped between the gum and a partially erupted tooth.
  • Gum disease. The difficulty cleaning impacted, partially erupted wisdom teeth increases the risk of developing a painful, inflammatory gum disease in that area.

Many of these problems can be treated with antibiotics, antiseptic mouthwash and a good oral hygiene regime.

Wisdom teeth removal is very common, but usually only recommended when other treatments haven't worked.

How are wisdom teeth removed?

If your Oakmead Dental Care dentist recommends removing your wisdom teeth, they'll take an X-ray of your mouth to help them determine who should carry out the procedure. Your dentist may remove your wisdom teeth, or they may refer you to a specialist surgeon for hospital treatment.

Before the operation, we’ll fully explain the procedure to you.

A local anaesthetic injection is usually given to numb the area around the tooth. You'll feel some pressure just before the tooth is removed, as your dentist or oral surgeon needs to widen the tooth socket by rocking the tooth back and forth.

A small cut in the gum is sometimes necessary, and the tooth may need to be cut into smaller pieces before it's removed.

It takes anything from a few minutes to 20 minutes, or sometimes even longer, to remove a wisdom tooth.

After your wisdom teeth have been removed, you may have swelling and discomfort, both inside and outside your mouth. Occasionally, some mild bruising is also visible. This is usually improves after 3 days, but it can take up to 2 weeks. If this continues for longer, or progresses, please get in touch with the team at Oakmead Dental Care as soon as possible.

Prevention

You can't keep an impaction from occurring but keeping your regular dental appointments for cleaning and reviews enables your dentist to monitor the growth and emergence of your wisdom teeth. Regularly updated dental X-rays may indicate impacted wisdom teeth before any symptoms develop.

If you have any concerns about your wisdom teeth, or are experiencing any pain, give us a call on 01342 325363.

Patient Reviews

People are talking about us

The biggest complement we receive is when our patients refer their friends and family to Oakmead Dental Care. In fact, we have built much of our practice on these valued, trusted recommendations over the years. Read our reviews to hear why our patients are recommending us…

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Patient reviews

1017 Reviews

5.0

12th February 2025

All staff are very helpful and efficient Debbie the hygienist is always on time and very thoroughIt was easy to make my next appointment

6th February 2025

Andy Hopkins is a very gentle dentist - the best I have ever had. Highly prpfessional and caring. I am very happy with Oakmead Dentist.

3rd February 2025

Dr Hopkins has been our family dentist for many years and actually cured my fear of dentistry

3rd February 2025

I was treated with respect in a friendly manner and was satisfied with my treatment

31st January 2025

Both my wife and I have our teeth and oral hygiene looked after by the Oakmead practice; we are both highly satisfied with the hygienist and dental treatment we receive.

30th January 2025

Efficient, friendly I used to be very nervous of the dentist but I now have no trouble going every 6 months

26th January 2025

Andrew is very caring, professional and explains what is happening at every stage of treatment.

25th January 2025

A great friendly confident team that make one feel at ease immediately

24th January 2025

Friendly staffTrustworthy dentist No upselling of treatments - I feel confident any treatment suggested is needed

24th January 2025

The friendly atmosphere and sheer professionalism

23rd January 2025

Lovely staff and efficient treatment.

23rd January 2025

The dentist was amazing with my children, he was friendly fun and welcoming.

22nd January 2025

Highly professional and always explain what is happening. Very friendly and concerning staff

22nd January 2025

Upon arrival the team greet you with a huge smile and it continues right through the appointment.I never have any problems visiting Oakmead; it’s always a pleasure.

21st January 2025

I have been at this fantastic practice for about 20 years . I have a fear of dentists from childhood treatment ,and this clinic ….I.e Andy Hopkins and his team turned that around through their listening ,understanding and sheer professionalism. They have the very latest , most advanced equipment and the skill of Andrew Hopkins is simply amazing . He is so talented , and so skilled being both gentle ,thorough and experienced whilst using the the most advanced technology .They run a super ,caring team who work well together from the reception team through to the hygienists and nurses . Andy is consistently excellent and really looks after staff ,patients and the practice . I do not think there are many dental practices as marvellous as Oakmead .They also look at costs ,and I know dentistry is expensive ,but Oakmead do not overcharge and honestly the treatment one receives is worth every penny .

21st January 2025

All the staff were very pleasant and helpful. The premises were well appointed and hygienic. The treatment was pain free, took less time than estimated and was well worth the cost. I shall be reusing Oakmead for future treatments

21st January 2025

I have been a patient for many years and have trust in the dentist

17th January 2025

Paul and his nurse are a great team and even laugh at my awful jokes. He is also very professional, patient and accommodating.

17th January 2025

Great staff who do everything possible to allay any fears you may have during your treatment

15th January 2025

Every time, it's genuinely a pleasure to go as the staff are really friendly, there's no clinical smell in the waiting area which makes a huge difference and we always feel safe. Thank you!

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