Wisdom Teeth in Canary Wharf
Wisdom teeth removals are necessary if these teeth show signs of being impacted or lead to complications such as intense pain, infection or gum disease.
Introduction
Mouth Dental provides a wide portfolio of general and cosmetic dental treatments including wisdom teeth removal. We provide routine, cosmetic and specialist dental treatment to over 9000 patients. Our team of experienced consultants and specialists are the backbone of our multi-clinic dental practice providing a range of oral surgery treatments that help our patients enjoy good oral health and regain their confidence through their smiles.
Book your smile makeover today
What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the last ones to appear in our mouths, which is how they get their name and not because they actually bring us any wisdom. This usually happens around the ages of 17 to 21. According to anthropologists they are an evolutionary product that helped our ancestors to chew coarse, rough food such as roots, nuts, leaves and meat. They do not however, play an important role in our modern day lives. As the last permanent teeth to appear wisdom teeth or third molars sometimes unfortunately get stuck below the surface of the gums or grow out at an odd angle creating complications. Being quite a common occurrence, wisdom teeth extractions are a commonplace dental treatment.
Reasons for wisdom teeth extraction?
As our dietary and lifestyle habits have evolved we no longer really need wisdom teeth and as such our gums sometimes no longer have adequate room to accommodate the late arriving wisdom teeth. This causes them to grow at an angle or overcrowd the existing teeth when they do come out, which leads to further complications such as:
- Damage to neighbouring teeth
- Infection or cavities
- Lesions
- Bone loss around roots
- Not enough room to brush and floss around the tooth
Referred to as impaction if you are experiencing discomfort or your dentist notices that your wisdom teeth are showing signs of being problematic, you will be advised to extract your wisdom tooth or teeth. It is best to follow the advice and recommendations of your dentist as it can help you avoid a lot of unnecessary pain and hassle at a later time.
What happens if you don’t remove impacted wisdom teeth?
If your wisdom teeth are showing signs of being problematic then not having them extracted in time will lead to complications such as intense pain, infection, gum disease and other periodontal problems and damage to your jaw bone. It can also lead to complicated dental conditions such as cysts that can damage other teeth roots and your bone support. It is for these reasons that some dentists highly recommend taking wisdom teeth out as a precaution to reduce the risk of future problems. However, if your wisdom teeth are not causing you any problems and seem to be otherwise healthy it is not really necessary to opt for an extraction. It is best to confirm this with your regular dental practitioner.
What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the last ones to appear in our mouths, which is how they get their name and not because they actually bring us any wisdom. This usually happens around the ages of 17 to 21. According to anthropologists they are an evolutionary product that helped our ancestors to chew coarse, rough food such as roots, nuts, leaves and meat. They do not however, play an important role in our modern day lives. As the last permanent teeth to appear wisdom teeth or third molars sometimes unfortunately get stuck below the surface of the gums or grow out at an odd angle creating complications. Being quite a common occurrence, wisdom teeth extractions are a commonplace dental treatment.
Reasons for wisdom teeth extraction?
As our dietary and lifestyle habits have evolved we no longer really need wisdom teeth and as such our gums sometimes no longer have adequate room to accommodate the late arriving wisdom teeth. This causes them to grow at an angle or overcrowd the existing teeth when they do come out, which leads to further complications such as:
- Damage to neighbouring teeth
- Infection or cavities
- Lesions
- Bone loss around roots
- Not enough room to brush and floss around the tooth
Referred to as impaction if you are experiencing discomfort or your dentist notices that your wisdom teeth are showing signs of being problematic, you will be advised to extract your wisdom tooth or teeth. It is best to follow the advice and recommendations of your dentist as it can help you avoid a lot of unnecessary pain and hassle at a later time.
What happens if you don’t remove impacted wisdom teeth?
If your wisdom teeth are showing signs of being problematic then not having them extracted in time will lead to complications such as intense pain, infection, gum disease and other periodontal problems and damage to your jaw bone. It can also lead to complicated dental conditions such as cysts that can damage other teeth roots and your bone support. It is for these reasons that some dentists highly recommend taking wisdom teeth out as a precaution to reduce the risk of future problems. However, if your wisdom teeth are not causing you any problems and seem to be otherwise healthy it is not really necessary to opt for an extraction. It is best to confirm this with your regular dental practitioner.
What to expect when removing wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth extractions are a surgical procedure and can involve a bit of work to remove the permanent teeth located at the back areas of your jaw, both top and bottom. Depending on the amount of work needed for your oral surgery you are either administered with a local anaesthetic or a sedation anaesthetic via an IV line or a general anaesthetic in special situations. Your oral surgeon will determine the suitable options for you based on your medical history and requirements.
An incision will then be made in the gum tissue to expose the problematic tooth and the bone that blocks access to the tooth will be removed. To make removal easier the tooth is divided into sections and then removed. The extraction site is then cleaned, and all debris, tooth and bone is removed, after which the area is stitched if necessary to help promote healing. A gauze is placed over the area to control bleeding and help a blood clot form.
How can you prepare before a wisdom tooth extraction?
Ask your dental clinic for do’s and don’ts before your wisdom tooth extraction so that you are best prepared. A simple tooth extraction can be performed in the dental surgery itself, but if your tooth is deeply impacted or requires a surgical approach you may be referred to an oral surgeon. You may be recommended to undergo sedation as well as a local anaesthetic so that you are kept comfortable during the oral surgery.
- You will be advised not to eat or drink after midnight prior to the surgery because you will be administered some form of anaesthetic
- Inform your dental surgeon of any medication you are on and follow advice regarding taking medication before the surgery
- If you do smoke, avoid doing so 12 hours prior to surgery
- Keep your fridge stocked with relatively soft food such as smoothies, mashed potatoes, ice cream and other easy to eat food types
- Wear comfortable clothing for the surgery and if you wear them, remove contacts and opt for your glasses instead
Wisdom tooth extraction aftercare
Your dentist will prescribed over the counter medication such as paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain management. Normally if you had only the local anaesthetic you can drive yourself home, but if you had a sedative as well then you should avoid driving for at least 24 hours and if a general anaesthetic was used then you should wait 48 hours.
You will be advised to wait a day or two before returning to work and asked to avoid strenuous activities and exercise for a few days.
Keep your head propped up slightly with the support of an additional pillow.
For 24 hours avoid doing anything that may dislodge the blood clots that form in the empty tooth socket as they help with healing. Basically no hot drinks, spitting or rinsing, drinking alcohol or smoking.
Consume the soft foods your stocked up on and chew from the other side of your mouth to where the tooth was extracted.
After 24 hours you can gently rinse the extraction site with an antiseptic mouthwash. Continue doing this regularly over the next few days especially after consuming any food. Warm water with a teaspoon of salt works as well and helps reduce the gum soreness and inflammation.
Wisdom tooth extractions at Mouth Dental
Mouth Dental has the distinction of being one of the longest standing dental health care providers in Canary Wharf. We place complete emphasis on quality of care having the best dental specialists on board and investment in new technology, which is how we have become the leading dental and specialist referral centre in East London with more than 50 surrounding clinics referring complex oral health cases to us.
At Mouth Dental practice we provide a flawless and complete patient journey from teeth cleaning to root canal treatments, to tooth extractions, to aesthetic procedures, our patients enjoy good oral health care under one roof.
Cost
The cost of wisdom teeth extractions can vary according to what exactly needs to be done but generally ranges from £450 to £750 per tooth. You can discuss the exact work involved with your dentist so that you will have a clear idea of the rough cost and prepare accordingly.
Book your free virtual consultation
Begin your personalised smile transformation at Mouth Dental.
Book your free consultation with us now and let's discuss treatment options to help you get that perfect smile!