Many people groan when others mention the words ‘wisdom teeth’, and sometimes they have good reason. For some, the wisdom teeth don’t cause any problems, but occasionally they can be very troublesome and if this is the case, extraction may be recommended.

A bit about wisdom teeth

The wisdom teeth are so-called because they develop in adult life when we are supposed to be wise, but they are also known as the third molars. These are the last teeth to erupt and there are four in total, with one located in each corner of the mouth. In some cases, the wisdom teeth develop without causing any discomfort at all, but often they are painful because there is not enough space for them to grow properly. If this is the case, the teeth can start to grow at an angle and push against the neighbouring teeth. This is known as an impacted tooth.

Why would I need my wisdom tooth extracted?

If your tooth is impacted or it has become decayed, the best course of action may be to remove the tooth. Strictly speaking, you don’t need your wisdom teeth and you will be able to cope just fine without them, so extraction can save you a lot of unnecessary pain.

The procedure

Wisdom tooth extraction is essentially very similar to normal tooth extraction, in that the tooth is loosened in the socket and then pulled out using specially designed dental instruments; however, it is often complicated by the location of the tooth and the angle it is positioned at and in this case, expertise is required. Our highly trained dentists have experience in oral surgery and will do all they can to remove your tooth with the minimum amount of fuss. We can offer sedation for extraction procedures if you are feeling nervous and we are on hand to offer advice after the procedure. It is normal to experience mild pain after extraction and we recommend taking over the counter pain relief.