Wisdom Tooth Removal

Wisdom Teeth Removal

Having your wisdom teeth removed through Smile Cliniq is an affordable and great solution to any pain and discomfort that can be experienced with having wisdom teeth. The techniques and materials we use will ensure the most comfortable and precise wisdom teeth removal possible, with this overseen and performed by our fully qualified and experienced dentists.

Wisdom teeth are generally the last molars to appear on each side of the jaws at the back of your jawline, with most people having 4 wisdom teeth coming through in each corner. In some cases, people may not have these appear at all, most commonly though they appear between the age of 14 and 30 and can cause problems for some due to jaws being too small and crowded for a full set of 32 teeth.

Most people will find they only have room for 28 teeth and having wisdom teeth removal doesn’t affect the performance of the rest of the teeth, if they are healthy and all present.

Why Have Wisdom Teeth Removal Treatment?

The reasons can be different for everyone, but most of the time you would want to have wisdom teeth removed to correct a current problem or to prevent future issues with these teeth. The problems that can occur to warrant wisdom teeth removal are:

• Your jaw not being large enough to accommodate the wisdom teeth coming through, meaning the gumline may struggle with their eruption correctly.
• If they can’t erupt properly, wisdom teeth can impinge on the adjacent teeth, making it more difficult to clean. This may lead to further issues such as interdental decay.
• One or more wisdom teeth can erupt at an awkward angle, for example, the top tooth facing forward, backwards or to either side. This can make cleaning much more difficult especially if bacteria or food gets trapped in the gum line, leading to pericoronitis which is a localised infection in the tissues that surround the wisdom teeth.

For further guidance on when wisdom teeth removal should be considered, the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) has more information.

How is Wisdom Teeth Removal Performed?

Before proceeding with wisdom teeth removal, your dentist here at Smile Cliniq will administer a local anaesthetic to numb the area where the tooth or teeth will be removed. The sedation can also be used in situations when a patient is nervous or anticipated to need a difficult extraction. The cost of wisdom teeth removal starts from £150 and can range up to £300 depending on the difficulty, the time needed and expertise required; read here for more information on tooth extraction.

After having wisdom teeth removal surgery, you may experience:

• Swelling (inflammation) around the mouth and cheeks which will be at its peak the first few days after wisdom teeth removal. This will gradually improve, and we recommend gently pressing a cold cloth to your face and using anti-inflammatory medication (as recommended by your dentist) to help with reducing swelling.
• It may leave an unpleasant taste in your mouth, with the pain after wisdom teeth removal varying depending on the difficulty of extraction.
• Sutures which we may use to close the socket after wisdom teeth removal. This will remain in the mouth until they dissolve (is resorbable) or are removed by your dentist if silk sutures are used.
• There is a risk in under 10% of cases that the lower wisdom tooth being removed will damage the inferior alveolar nerve, depending on how closely it relates to the roots of the teeth. This can be estimated with a good quality radiograph to assess the risk. The result can be temporary or in very rare cases, cause permanent tingling and/or numbness to the lower lip, chin or tongue.
• With the upper wisdom teeth, there is a minor risk of opening an oro-antral communication into the maxillary sinus. Similar to the lower wisdom teeth, this depends on how closely the roots of the teeth relate to the sinus floor. If small enough, it tends to heal spontaneously, although it sometimes may require being closed with sutures. Additionally, there is a small risk of dislodging the tooth into the sinus where it will need to be retrieved.

How to Help Reduce the Pain & Discomfort After Wisdom Teeth Removal

• Relive any pain using pain killers such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen.
• Avoid rinsing, spitting and drinking any hot drinks.
• Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
• Make sure you eat soft or liquid formed food for a few days after wisdom teeth removal, avoiding chewing directly onto the area so you can avoid any discomfort by chewing with your other teeth.

For any further information regarding our fees or wisdom teeth removal, don’t hesitate to contact us. You can speak to one of our friendly team on 020 8343 1133 or 020 7328 1200. For more information relating to maintaining good oral hygiene or our techniques and materials used during procedures, follow the links.