Wisdom Teeth: Extraction and Recovery Time
A fully grown adult jaw line is made up of 32 teeth, of which there are four wisdom teeth. The wisdom teeth are the last of our adult teeth to come through, right up the back of the mouth on both sides of our top and bottom jaw. Generally, wisdom teeth will begin to erupt between the ages of 17 and 25, however sometimes they may not appear until a later date, or in some cases may never erupt at all. Not everyone has wisdom teeth and generally an X-ray is required to record their presence or absence.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
If our wisdom teeth position themselves correctly and there is sufficient room in the mouth there may only be a minor discomfort as they erupt. However many people do not have adequate space along their jaw line for their wisdom teeth to completely erupt. A common occurrence is when the tooth is at an angle which will cause it to press against the molar in front of it and cannot erupt normally. These teeth are called ‘impacted’ wisdom tooth and they can be unerupted (under the bone and gum) or partially erupted (with some tooth above the gum line but the bulk below).
When do Wisdom Teeth need to be removed?
The team at Sydney Dental Surgeons will not recommend wisdom tooth removal if they are functionally erupted and able to be cleaned and maintained. Also there is no need to remove unerupted and impacted wisdom teeth if they are causing no pathology or pain. Usually a low dose panoramic xray will clearly define the position of all the wisdom teeth. Partially erupted wisdom teeth are often removed because they are susceptible to infection and decay and are difficult to clean. Decay in wisdom teeth may not cause any pain and can often affect the tooth in front.
Sometimes, if the roots of lower wisdom teeth are close to the mandibular nerve, a cone-beam x-ray will be required to take a picture three dimensionally.
Recovery Time
The team at Sydney Dental Surgeons will not recommend wisdom tooth removal if they are functionally erupted and able to be cleaned and maintained. Also there is no need to remove unerupted and impacted wisdom teeth if they are causing no pathology or pain. Usually a low dose panoramic xray will clearly define the position of all the wisdom teeth. Partially erupted wisdom teeth are often removed because they are susceptible to infection and decay and are difficult to clean. Decay in wisdom teeth may not cause any pain and can often affect the tooth in front.
Sometimes, if the roots of lower wisdom teeth are close to the mandibular nerve, a cone-beam x-ray will be required to take a picture three dimensionally.
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Whether you’re a new or returning patient, our team of Sydney dentists look forward to seeing you at Sydney Dental Surgeons. Our Sydney CBD dental clinic is conveniently located at 135 Macquarie Street, close to Martin Place train station. Bus stops and secure paid parking are available on Macquarie Street.
Call our friendly team on (02) 9221 1530 for more information about our clinic or to schedule a visit.