What is an impacted wisdom tooth?

Your wisdom teeth are the last teeth to develop and erupt into your jaws. Your wisdom teeth usually erupt in the late teen years, which coincides with passage into adulthood, and is referred to some as the age of wisdom – hence the name wisdom teeth. Unfortunately, the wisdom teeth usually tries to erupt into a jaw that is too small, which causes pain and in some cases, severe discomfort.

An impacted wisdom tooth is a tooth that is blocked as it is pushing through the gum (erupting). It is quite common for wisdom teeth to be impacted. When an impacted tooth tries to erupt, the flap of the gum on top of it can become infected and swollen, causing a lot of pain. You might even feel pain in the surrounding teeth, or in the ear on that side of your face.

Impacted wisdom teeth can result in pain, infection, and damage to other teeth and the surrounding gums; and other dental problems such as overcrowding, structural damage to other teeth, and the formation of a cyst.

What happens during a wisdom tooth extraction?

You will have an initial consultation with your dentist or maxillofacial surgeon to discuss the suitability of the procedure, discuss options, and discuss the procedure. An X-ray of your teeth is usually taken to identify the position of your teeth. If you have an infection in the wisdom tooth, you may be given antibiotics and the surgery can only be performed after the infection has healed.

Prior to the procedure, your dentist or maxillofacial surgeon will administer a local anaesthetic to the area. If all of the wisdom teeth are being extracted in the same session, your dentist or maxillofacial surgeon will administer a general anaesthetic instead. If this is the case, your dentist or maxillofacial surgeon will inform you before hand and you will usually need to fast after midnight before the extraction.

During the procedure, your dentist or maxillofacial surgeon will make an incision into your gums and peel the flap back before proceeding to cutting your impacted wisdom tooth into smaller pieces as a clean extraction is generally not possible with impacted wisdom teeth. Once all of the tooth fragments are out, you dentist or maxillofacial surgeon would usually stitch the gums back together.

The procedure usually takes between 1-2 hours. It is common to experience minor discomfort, swelling and soreness, which should subside within 1-2 days. An ice pack can be used on the cheek for the first 24-hours to help with the swelling. You should eat soft foods and not use a straw or smoke for the first few days as this can loosen the blood clot, slowing the healing process. If the blood clot becomes loose and exposes the bone underneath it, it can cause a painful condition known as ‘dry socket’. In this instance, your dentist or maxillofacial surgeon will place an anaesthetic cover on the area until it properly heals. Patients should follow the instructions of the dentist afterwards and should notify the dentist or maxillofacial surgeon if you think you have a dry socket. You are usually able to return to work immediately post-procedure.

How do I find the right dentist?

The best way is to speak to a few dentists, look up their reviews and find out which dentist you are most comfortable with. At Holiday Health, we can connect you to reputable and reliable dentists. We strongly suggest you take into consideration that the dentist you choose:

• is reputable and trustworthy;
• has a proven track record;
• is registered with or accredited by their local government or the governing medical body or association;
• has never been disqualified from practising anywhere in the world;
• has never been found guilty of endangering a patient’s life; and
• has never been found guilty of malpractice.

You should also include any preferences you might have. For example, you might be more comfortable with a female dentist, or someone who has more experience.

Important 

Before your procedure, you will have the opportunity to discuss your goals and the results you would like to achieve with your dental professional. Communication is vital in reaching your goals. Ensure you communicate your vision clearly to your dental professional and re-confirm the intended procedure to ensure there is no miscommunication. Your dental professional will work with you to reach an understanding about what you can expect from this procedure, and what long-term benefits and side-effects you may experience. Every patient is different, and your dentist will choose the surgical technique and treatment plan that is right for you.

Your dental professional will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and which vitamins and medications should be taken or avoided.

Please note. The information found on this website is purely for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon for its exactness or for its accuracy for your specific situation and/or for your specific procedure. The information provided is not a substitute for advice from your dentist as it may not contain all the known facts, risks and side effects of this procedure. Please consult with your dentist about your personal circumstances and about your personal procedure / treatment plan. We take no responsibility for any misinformation, inaccuracies, or for any loss or damage suffered by you in relation to the services we provide to you, or the information provided on our website.