Wisdom teeth
Some people never develop wisdom teeth and others have up to four — one wisdom tooth in each corner of the mouth. Wisdom teeth usually appear between the ages of 17 and 25.
Wisdom teeth often cause no problem and sit happily at the back of the mouth performing their job quite contentedly. Sometimes, if there isn't enough room for them, they can become impacted. This can cause pain, swelling, infection, bad breath or damage to the teeth next to them.
We have wide experience treating wisdom teeth and have an in-house surgical dentist, Dr Andre La Grange (B.MedSc, BChD, Dip Odont (Oral Surgery), who is well versed in dealing with complicated wisdom teeth cases.
Frequently asked questions
Why don't wisdom teeth grow in correctly?
The shape of the modern human mouth is often too small to accommodate wisdom teeth. We should have 32 teeth in total but sometimes 28 is the most we have room for.
What does impacted mean?
A full set of healthy teeth sometimes doesn't leave enough room for wisdom teeth to grow. When wisdom teeth don't have room to grow they are considered to be impacted. The wisdom tooth may try to come through, but will get stuck against the tooth in front of it and will grow in at an angle.
What kind of problems can this cause?
Partially erupted wisdom teeth are breeding grounds for organisms that may cause infection. This can cause pain, swelling of the gum at the back of your mouth, difficulty opening your jaw, bad breath, infection, decay and gum disease. Pain can occur for several days and then disappear. It can come back weeks or months later. Sometimes, an impacted tooth can be painless and you may not even realize it's there.
What can I do to relieve the symptoms?
In the short tem, you could try some of the following.
Salt wash: A mouthwash of warm water (as warm as a cup of tea) with 2 teaspoonfuls of salt will help to reduce gum soreness and inflammation. Swirl the salt water around the tooth, trying to get into the areas your toothbrush cannot reach. This should be done several times a day.
Antibacterial mouthwash
An antibacterial mouthwash containing chlorhexidine can also reduce the inflammation. Care is needed with this product as it can cause severe staining.
Pain relieving tablets
Paracetamol, Ibuprofen or aspirin can also be useful in the short term, but consult your dentist if the pain continues.
These should always be swallowed and in no circumstances be placed on the area.
If pain persists for more than a few days or if it starts to get worse, we recommend that you contact a dentist who can evaluate the problem and make a professional recommendation.
If the tooth continues to cause pain, is infected or interferes with nearby teeth, the usual treatment is to take it out. Extracting a tooth takes no more than 30 minutes, depending on where it is.
Is tooth extraction complicated?
The position and the shape of the roots will dictate the how simple the extraction is. We have digital x-rays so we can show you onscreen where the tooth is and what its characteristics are.
We have an in-house surgical dentist, Dr Andre la Grange (B.MedSc, BChD, Dip Odont (Oral Surgery), who is highly experienced in more complicated cases. We can talk to you about the types of anaesthesia that we can use to make it completely pain free.
Most people have a local anaesthetic, as they would for a regular filling. But we can also offer you sedation. Please click here for more information on sedation.
Will it hurt after the extraction?
After the extraction, you may have swelling of the cheeks and jaw and it may be hard to eat certain foods. We will give you instructions for first class recovery. The good news is that once the tooth is taken out, the symptoms will go away.
What safety measures do you take?
Health and safety and the prevention of cross-contamination are vitally important to us. And to keep us as the forefront of dentistry, we consider our professional development to be paramount.
X-rays
We use digital x-rays which deliver about 90% less radiation dosage than a standard x-ray. We have 2 separate radiography rooms which are fully lead-lined and radiation protected.
Cross-infection
We have a seamless floor from reception door onwards.It's made with a poured resin which means that there are no seams or cracks for dirt to collect in. And all our instruments are sterilised and stored in sealed bags. We have a sterilisation room and the instruments are sent to and from the surgeries in vacuum-wrapped, colour-coded sterile trays. Our disposable instruments are thrown away after use. We always wear disposable gloves when working and we obviously wear new ones for each patient
Barrier protection
We cover surfaces that are touched by the dentist (e.g. handles, buttons in the surgery) in thick selotape-like plastic. This forms a further barrier against germs. These are removed after each patient and then the area underneath is cleaned using sterilising wipes and sprays.
Mercury
All of the dental units have mercury separators and we use high-volume aspiration so that mercury is removed safely. We can reassure you that there can be no mercury leaks.
Amalgam free
We do not place amalgam (mercury) fillings.
Immunisation
Our dentists, nurses and hygienist are immunised against Hepatitis B, Tuberculosis (TB), Tetanus, Poliomyelitis (Polio), Pertussis (whooping cough), Diphtheria, Rubella, Mumps and Varicella. This helps to protect both team members and patients from these diseases.
Professional education
We pride ourselves on our commitment to professional development. All members of the team regularly attend seminars and conferences to stay abreast of the latest thinking. We are registered with the General Dental Council for continuing professional development and Andrew, Janet and Andre, between them, are active members of the relevant dental professional bodies — British Dental Association, Dental Society of London, British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Association of Dental Implantology and the New Zealand Dental Society in London. Hayley is an active member of the Dental Hygienist & Therapists Association and the Dental Therapy Association. Farah, our Orthodontist, teaches three days a week and is at the very forefront of new thinking.
If you have any questions or you'd like to have a peek around, please ask.
What do I do next?
If you'd like to book an appointment, you can call us on 020 7638 7100, or email us on bite@dentistry100.co.uk
