The third adult molar teeth are ‘wisdom teeth, the last teeth to appear in the mouth around the age of 17 onwards.

Most people have four wisdom teeth, which may come through or might never appear in the mouth, and others will not develop wisdom teeth or they may have one, two or three. Many people have their wisdom teeth taken out.

Wisdom teeth are often impacted, meaning something is keeping them trapped under the gum, such as a lack of space, or the bone or gum may be in the way of them coming through.

How dentists check wisdom teeth

Your dentist will examine your mouth and see your wisdom teeth directly, but if they are under the gums, your dentist will ask to view an OPG x-ray which allows your wisdom teeth to be viewed in the gum and bone, and to see the position of the teeth, the shape of the roots and if the wisdom teeth are close to important facial structures, such as nerves. If you are going to have your wisdom teeth removed, an OPG x-ray must be taken for correct assessment and planning.

Do wisdom teeth cause crooked teeth?

When wisdom teeth move into position, they can cause pressure, and sometimes other teeth become crooked. Dentists are unsure if the wisdom teeth pressure causes the problem, or if the teeth move regardless of them being present, since many people have no wisdom teeth and still end up with crowding of their teeth.

Cleaning wisdom teeth

When wisdom teeth move through the gums and into the mouth, it is important to keep them very clean. Bacteria around wisdom teeth that are partly present can cause the gums to become inflamed, known as pericoronitis.

Clean carefully around your wisdom teeth with your toothbrush paying special attention when the area is limited. A small headed toothbrush and especially an electric toothbrush, or slightly closing your mouth while brushing can allow more space to reach the wisdom teeth.

MOUTHRINSE FOR WISDOM TEETH INFECTION

If there is pain from severely inflamed gum around wisdom teeth, using simple warm salt water rinses often, can soothe, cleanse the area, and can help reduce mild inflammation.

Mouthwash can be a useful if the gum is inflamed from a tooth that has not completely broken through the gums. It is important to keep the tooth under a gum flap clean and free of food debris.

In cases where there is an infection in the gum, an antimicrobial mouthwash may be recommended to decrease bacteria and help keep the area clean. A Chlorhexidine based mouth rinse, such as Curasept 0.20% Mouth Rinse is likely to helpful in the short term, and is often favoured because it is anti staining and alcohol free.

Impacted wisdom teeth

For many people, wisdom teeth are unable to move from under the gums and into the mouth like the rest of the teeth.

Most people do not have enough space in their jaws and the wisdom teeth become impacted and remain stuck under the gum or partially break through the gum, with only a small portion of the tooth able to be seen, known as partial eruption.

A wisdom tooth may be sitting at an angle that is causing it to bump into the tooth in front which stops it from moving into the mouth.

Problems caused by impacted wisdom teeth include infection, pain, cysts, ulcers, as well as food becoming stuck and causing tooth decay to develop on the wisdom tooth or the tooth in front that the wisdom tooth is butting into. 

If impacted wisdom teeth are causing problems, your dentist may recommend removing them.
 

Reasons for removing wisdom teeth

Reasons that wisdom teeth may be removed are:

• Impaction

• Risk of tooth decay or gum disease.

• Gum around wisdom tooth becomes infected multiple times

• Presence of a cyst

Wisdom teeth can be removed by your general dentist or a dental specialist, known as an oral maxillofacial surgeon, and removed in the dental chair or in a hospital. 

Wisdom teeth may be removed under local anaesthesia, sometimes in combination with conscious sedation, such as nitrous oxide or happy gas for relaxation, or general anaesthesia.
 

Risks and complications of removing wisdom teeth

Possible risks and complications following wisdom tooth removal could include:

• Damage to the nerves that travel to and supply feeling to the wisdom teeth and nearby parts of the face which can cause numbness or a feeling of 'pins and needles' in the lower lip, lower jaw, cheek or tongue, called paraesthesia

• A dry socket infection

• Swelling and/or infection

• Damage to nearby teeth

• Difficulty opening the mouth, associated with swelling.

• Excessive bleeding

• Pain

• An opening from the mouth to the maxillary sinus for upper wisdom teeth only

Best age to remove wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth that are causing problems or at high risk of causing problems in the future are best removed by around age 25 because it is easier than doing so at an older age.

If you are experiencing issues with your wisdom teeth, it is best to see your dentist who can provide personalised advice.

 

Recovery time after wisdom teeth removal

Depending on the difficulty of the treatment, it may be necessary to take a few days off work. After a general anaesthetic, you are unable to drive for 48 hours. 

After any tooth extraction, it is also best to avoid strenuous exercise.