Wisdom teeth removal
Ninety-five percent of the population in our society do not have enough room for all 32 teeth we’ve evolved to have. It has become “normal” for people to need their wisdom teeth out.
Humans are actually evolved have 32 teeth. That means 16 on the top jaw, 16 on the bottom jaw.
It means we have three molars. Our third molars, being wisdom teeth, should have enough room to come through and be functional parts of our teeth.
If we didn’t have enough room for five fingers on the hands, would we feel as relaxed and accepting of that?
It’s not normal to require any teeth out.
When your wisdom teeth align properly and gum tissue is healthy, wisdom teeth do not have to be removed. Unfortunately, this does not always happen.
The removal of wisdom teeth is necessary when your wisdom teeth are prevented from properly erupting within the mouth. They may grow sideways, partially emerge from the gum and even remain trapped (impacted) beneath the gum and bone. Impacted teeth may take many positions in the bone as they attempt to find a pathway that will allow them to erupt successfully.
Wisdom teeth or your third molars are the very back teeth on either side of the upper and lower jaws. They are the last teeth to erupt and usually appear between the ages of 17 and 25 years old.
The average mouth is made to hold only 28 teeth. It can be painful when 32 teeth try to fit in a mouth designed only to holds only 28 teeth.
Dentists and oral health specialists recommend the removal of wisdom teeth if it is going to be beneficial to eliminate the problems associated with impacted wisdom teeth, such as:
- Pain, can often experience a dull ache in the back of the mouth.
- Bacteria and plaque build-up.
- Development of cysts.
- Tumour development, infection and jaw and gum disease.
- Crowding of mouth and pushing straight teeth out of alignment.
- Difficulties in cleaning the back teeth.
Consult your general dentist for the best time to have your wisdom teeth removed, however usually removing them before they have a chance to cause complications may work best for you. Our team are here to help and advise you on your treatment options to ensure your experience is productive and painless.
Ask our dentist for further details and to determine if you are a candidate for wisdom teeth removal.
What’s involved?
The procedure for removing wisdom teeth varies depending on the positioning of your wisdom teeth and the difficulty of extraction. A consultation is required to determine what your personalised procedure would involve.
Specialisation?
General dentists experienced in removing wisdom teeth can perform extractions in the chair. More difficult cases, such as impacted wisdom teeth, may require the wisdom teeth to be removed under oral surgery performed by a specialist Oral Surgeon.
What can I expect in the healing process?
During the healing process, you may experience initial swelling and discomfort in your gums and jaw, making it wise to plan on ‘’taking it easy’’ for a few days following surgery. Discomfort and swelling can be relieved by placing ice packs on your face. We may also prescribe pain medication to increase your comfort during the healing process and antibiotics if necessary.
Remember to drink plenty of liquids and limit your diet to soft foods after the bleeding stops and avoid hard or crunchy foods for at least two weeks.
Commonly Asked Questions
There are two reasons why teeth crowd.
One – the nutrition that we enjoy or don’t enjoy from the moment of conception right through pregnancy into the early years of their lives – that affects the shape of our jaw.
The second thing is that once we are born, the balance between the tongue and the lip and the cheeks affecting the shape of the arch of the top and bottom teeth.
Ideally, the tongue should sit on the roof of the mouth most of the time.
We should be breathing through your nose. The tongue is nature’s best orthodontic appliance and if it is in the right position and if you are breathing correctly than the shape of your jaw will be not crowded. And so the reason teeth crowd…
Diet – through from conception throughout life and also the balance of tongue, lip and cheek muscles – it’s called oral myology.
Contact Us
Schedule Your Next Appointment or Send Us An Enquiry