Understanding Wisdom Teeth

These teeth, or third molars, are the last adult teeth to emerge in the mouth, usually appearing between the ages of 18-25. These are typically the most posterior molars and can number up to four—one in each corner of the mouth. 

The emergence of these teeth typically occurs in the late teens to early 20s. However, this age can vary, and not all wisdom teeth will emerge fully, if at all​.

Yes, it’s possible to have fewer than four of these teeth. Some people may have only one, two, or three wisdom teeth, and there are also cases where individuals do not develop any wisdom teeth at all​2​.

Impaction refers to a tooth that has failed to emerge fully into its expected position. This can occur if there is not enough room for the tooth to emerge or if it grows at an incorrect angle, sometimes pushing into the gum, bone, or a neighboring tooth. Impacted wisdom teeth can lead to pain, infection, and other dental issues​2​​1​.

The signs of these teeth coming in include the appearance of teeth at the back of the mouth, feelings of pressure in the gums around the area, and sometimes pain or discomfort. If the teeth are impacted, there may be swelling, difficulty in opening the mouth, and other symptoms of infection​2​.

These teeth are not essential for oral health. Many people have them removed due to complications or the potential for problems in the future, especially if they are impacted and cause discomfort or dental issues​2​.

Wisdom teeth are often removed if they are impacted, cause pain, lead to infections or gum disease, damage other teeth, or if there isn’t enough room in the mouth for them to properly emerge. Removal is a common preventative measure to avoid future dental problems​.

Dentists assess wisdom teeth by examining the mouth and taking X-rays. X-rays can reveal the position of the teeth under the gums, the shape of the tooth roots, and their proximity to important facial nerves. This information helps in planning any necessary treatment, including removal​1​.

There is no substantial evidence to suggest that wisdom teeth cause other teeth to become crooked. They may cause a sensation of pressure as they emerge, but this does not necessarily result in the misalignment of other teeth​3​.

Pericoronitis is an inflammation of the gums that occurs around the wisdom teeth, particularly when they are partially emerged. It can be caused by bacteria and food particles getting trapped around the tooth, leading to painful and swollen gums. Good oral hygiene, including brushing and possibly using an antibacterial mouthwash, can help manage and prevent pericoronitis​1​.

It’s important to keep the area around emerging teeth clean to prevent pericoronitis, an inflammation of the gums. You should use a toothbrush with a small head to reach the back of your mouth and clean around the wisdom teeth. If the gums are severely inflamed, an antibacterial mouthwash can be used as a temporary measure, but it shouldn’t replace brushing​1​.

• Wisdom teeth are often removed if they are impacted, difficult to clean, cause recurrent infections, or if a cyst or tumour has formed around the tooth. Extractions can be performed by a general dentist or dental specialist, and the procedure might take place in a dental clinic, day surgery clinic, or hospital​1​.

• Possible complications include nerve damage leading to numbness or a ‘pins and needles’ sensation, dry socket, swelling, infection, damage to nearby teeth, difficulty opening the mouth, excessive bleeding, pain, and a possible opening to the maxillary sinus (for upper wisdom teeth.

After the extraction, it’s recommended to avoid spicy foods, crunchy and crumbly foods like chips or cookies, and foods with grains or seeds that can get stuck in the extraction site

You should avoid using a straw for at least a week after surgery because the sucking action can dislodge the blood clot from the socket, leading to a dry socket and disrupting the healing process

Post-surgery recommendations include limiting food and drink for two hours, not touching the extraction site, biting on gauze to help stop bleeding, resting, avoiding mouth rinsing or spitting for 12 hours, and being cautious when brushing teeth​

It’s advised to rinse your mouth at least 5-6 times a day with warm salt water, especially after eating, to aid in the healing process​

The recovery timeline is usually up to two weeks, with symptoms peaking in the first few days and gradually reducing afterwards. Complete healing of the socket can take up to a month, and bone remodelling may take about six months​.

Wisdom teeth extraction often involves the use of dissolvable stitches that typically dissolve within a few weeks​.

Warning signs to contact your dentist or surgeon include persistent bleeding that doesn’t subside with pressure, worsening swelling, throbbing pain that persists beyond three days post-surgery, fever, bad breath, and visible bone in the socket site​

Post wisdom teeth removal, it is recommended to avoid hard, crunchy, spicy, and difficult-to-chew foods that can irritate the surgery site. A soft food diet is usually advised for the first few days to a week after the procedure

Pain during the actual removal is typically managed with local anaesthesia or sedation. Post-operative pain is to be expected but can be managed with prescribed pain medications and over-the-counter painkillers​.

Signs of infection include persistent bad taste, fever, continuous throbbing pain, swelling that worsens after two or three days, and potentially pus from the surgery site. If you notice these symptoms, it’s crucial to contact your dentist.

Signs of infection include persistent bad taste, fever, continuous throbbing pain, swelling that worsens after two or three days, and potentially pus from the surgery site. If you notice these symptoms, it’s crucial to contact your dentist.

Swelling can be reduced by applying cold compresses to the cheek in intervals of 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off. This should be done during the first 24-48 hours after the procedure​.

A bad taste in the mouth can occur post-surgery, especially if there is bleeding or an infection. It is important to follow aftercare instructions and maintain oral hygiene to prevent this

The numbness from the local anaesthetic usually wears off within a few hours after the surgery. However, if a nerve was affected during the surgery, numbness could last longer and should be discussed with a dentist​

Yes, especially the upper wisdom teeth, since their roots can be in close proximity to the sinus cavity. During extraction, there is a risk of creating an opening into the maxillary sinus​

Dry socket is a condition where the blood clot at the surgery site fails to develop or dislodges before the wound has healed. If you suspect a dry socket, you should contact your dentist immediately for appropriate care​.

It is advised to wait at least 72 hours before smoking after wisdom teeth removal to prevent complications like dry socket. However, the longer you can wait, the better for the healing process​.

The average recovery time after wisdom teeth removal is typically 7 to 10 days, with complete healing taking several weeks to a few months, depending on factors such as the complexity of the extraction and the individual’s overall health​.