Wisdom Teeth
You may be referred to us to have your wisdom teeth or third molars removed for multiple reasons. These include :
Pain- If your wisdom teeth have insufficient space in your jaw to erupt, or come into occlusion with opposing teeth, they can become impacted and cause symptoms such as pain and discomfort.
Infection- Sometimes the gum surrounding the wisdom tooth will become inflamed or infected leading to a condition called pericoronitis. If you suffer from these infections repeatedly, it may warrant removal of your wisdom teeth.
As part of orthodontic treatment- Your orthodontist may decide that your wisdom teeth need to be removed to facilitate correct teeth alignment, or as part of a plan for future corrective jaw surgery.
Caries- Impacted wisdom teeth often trap food and can cause caries in adjacent molars or become carious themselves, causing pain, and or infection.
Pathology- Wisdom teeth are surrounded by a sac that can accumulate fluid and become a cyst. Your dentist may refer you to us to assess and remove wisdom teeth to prevent or manage cystic changes.
It is possible that you have not experienced any of these symptoms but would like to be examined to investigate the status of your wisdom teeth. We welcome all such queries and would be happy to provide advice in this regard.
Consultation
We will examine you and may request a radiograph, called an OPG (Orthopantomogram), or a detailed scan of your jaw called a CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography) scan. Our treatment plan may be altered accordingly, and we will discuss this in detail with you, explaining the necessary procedures, possible risks and post-operative complications.
Procedure
The procedure will be performed either under Local Anaesthetic at our clinic, or under General Anaesthetic in a hospital, as a day surgery procedure. The procedure itself may not take any longer than thirty to forty-five minutes, but you may be in the recovery area for a while after a general anaesthetic.
The team looking after you will consist of a surgeon, a surgically trained dental assistant, and an anaesthetist (if under general anaesthetic).
Post-operative management
Depending on the degree of impaction, and the type of surgery, you may experience a variety of post-operative sequelae. The most common immediate complications include: pain, oozing, bruising, swelling, and difficulty opening your mouth.
Our team at CADS will ensure that you are kept informed and as comfortable as possible throughout your post-operative journey with us.
On the day of the surgery you will be provided with a post-operative take home pack which will include post-operative instructions, a pack of gauze, and a special syringe for keeping the surgery sites clean if indicated. You will be provided with a prescription for painkillers, and antibiotics if required, your follow-up appointment, and an after-hours emergency contact number. Please inform us if you require a medical certificate.
We will communicate with your dentist about the procedures.