Answering Your Wisdom Teeth Woes: Your Ultimate Guide about Wisdom Teeth

Answering Your Wisdom Teeth Woes: Your Ultimate Guide about Wisdom Teeth

Woman having a toothache

Experiencing the below symptoms and suspect that you might have an impacted wisdom tooth that requires handling? 

  • Pain in the area of potential impacted wisdom teeth
  • Swelling around the jaw
  • Difficulty opening the mouth or eating due to jaw pain
  • Red/swollen/bleeding gums
  • Bad breath or an unpleasant taste in the mouth (caused by infection of the impacted wisdom tooth)

If you notice these signs, it’s important to get it checked out. It’s highly likely that you may need wisdom tooth extraction or removal to address the root cause.

Understanding Wisdom Tooth Surgery:

Your wisdom teeth, also known as your third molars, are the very last set of teeth at the back of your mouth. Most adults have a total of four wisdom teeth, with two on the top and two on the bottom. 

Wisdom Tooth Surgery becomes advisable when these teeth create various problems, as mentioned above. These issues arise from the way the teeth have erupted, causing an impact on your other teeth and gums and leading to oral complications due to insufficient space.

Therefore, if wisdom teeth have erupted in a manner that results in oral complications, wisdom tooth surgery is often recommended to remove and extract the impacted wisdom teeth, addressing the root of the problem.

Why Should I Consider Wisdom Tooth Surgery?

Opting for wisdom tooth surgery is beneficial when dealing with an impacted wisdom tooth, providing various advantages:

Preventing Food Trapping: Removal helps avoid food trapping in the impacted area, reducing pain.
Reducing Risks: Reduced risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and conditions like pericoronitis. 
Preventing Crowding: Averts teeth crowding and potential damage to neighbouring teeth.

Most importantly, it alleviates pain, discomfort, and enhances overall oral health.

What Complications May Arise from Retaining an Impacted Wisdom Tooth?

Choosing to retain an impacted wisdom tooth, even in the absence of current pain or discomfort, can lead to future dental problems. Despite being symptom-free, a wisdom tooth can still harbour diseases affecting oral health. Without adequate space for eruption, it increases the likelihood of trapping food, debris, and fostering bacterial growth, leading to decay. 

In addition, if you’re considering delaying the extraction process until later in life, it’s noteworthy that extracting a wisdom tooth may pose more difficulties for older adults compared to younger individuals. Thus, it is advisable to undergo wisdom tooth extraction as soon as it becomes apparent.

Is Surgical Extraction Necessary, or Can I Have My Wisdom Tooth Pulled?

Extraction methods for wisdom teeth come in two forms: surgical and simple extraction, and the choice depends on the condition of your wisdom tooth. 

If your wisdom tooth is fully erupted and visible, a simple dental extraction can effectively remove it. However, if the tooth is only partially impacted or not fully visible, surgical removal becomes necessary.

While wisdom tooth surgery is a more complex procedure compared to simple extraction, rest assured that it is considered a minor and generally safe surgical procedure. It is advisable to seek a specialist dentist who conducts comprehensive examinations and precise x-ray analyses before the surgery. Local anaesthesia is administered during the surgery to address any concerns about pain relief.

Must I remove all my wisdom tooth at once (if I have more than one)?

Generally, it is not mandatory to remove all wisdom teeth simultaneously. However, we may encourage the removal of all wisdom teeth at the same time if you have already had either one or some (upper or lower) of your wisdom teeth removed under local anaesthesia. 

Ultimately, the decision may still depend on factors such as the assessment of your condition, the suitable treatment plan for you, as well as your comfort level. Some patients may be able to have all four wisdom teeth removed at the same time if they choose to do so. However, if you’re concerned about the discomfort post-operation, you may choose to discuss with your dentist for a phased approach, addressing one side at a time.

Why Should I Consider Wisdom Tooth Surgery?
Opting for wisdom tooth surgery is beneficial when dealing with an impacted wisdom tooth, providing various advantages:

Preventing Food Trapping: Removal helps avoid food trapping in the impacted area, reducing pain. 
Reducing Risks: Reduced risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and conditions like pericoronitis.
Preventing Crowding: Averts teeth crowding and potential damage to neighbouring teeth.

Most importantly, it alleviates pain, discomfort, and enhances overall oral health.

Choosing to retain an impacted wisdom tooth, even in the absence of current pain or discomfort, can lead to future dental problems. Despite being symptom-free, a wisdom tooth can still harbour diseases affecting oral health. Without adequate space for eruption, it increases the likelihood of trapping food, debris, and fostering bacterial growth, leading to decay. 

In addition, if you’re considering delaying the extraction process until later in life, it’s noteworthy that extracting a wisdom tooth may pose more difficulties for older adults compared to younger individuals. Thus, it is advisable to undergo wisdom tooth extraction as soon as it becomes apparent.

Extraction methods for wisdom teeth come in two forms: surgical and simple extraction, and the choice depends on the condition of your wisdom tooth. 

If your wisdom tooth is fully erupted and visible, a simple dental extraction can effectively remove it. However, if the tooth is only partially impacted or not fully visible, surgical removal becomes necessary.

While wisdom tooth surgery is a more complex procedure compared to simple extraction, rest assured that it is considered a minor and generally safe surgical procedure. It is advisable to seek a specialist dentist who conducts comprehensive examinations and precise x-ray analyses before the surgery. Local anaesthesia is administered during the surgery to address any concerns about pain relief.

Generally, it is not mandatory to remove all wisdom teeth simultaneously. However, we may encourage the removal of all wisdom teeth at the same time if you have already had either one or some (upper or lower) of your wisdom teeth removed under local anaesthesia. 

Ultimately, the decision may still depend on factors such as the assessment of your condition, the suitable treatment plan for you, as well as your comfort level. Some patients may be able to have all four wisdom teeth removed at the same time if they choose to do so. However, if you’re concerned about the discomfort post-operation, you may choose to discuss with your dentist for a phased approach, addressing one side at a time.

The process of wisdom teeth removal may be intimidating for some, with concerns about how to properly care for oral health during the healing process. 

We recommend eating soft foods as a guide after the surgery and taking medications as directed. Avoid hot and spicy foods as they may irritate the area. Refrain from brushing the surgical area and use the provided mouth rinse for cleansing. 

Also, avoid strenuous activities for at least 4-5 days to prevent an increase in heart rate and blood pressure that may lead to swelling and discomfort. Applying cold compresses can help reduce any swelling or bruising in the area.

It’s normal for food to be trapped in the socket initially, as the gum needs time to heal before the bone regenerates.

The cost of wisdom teeth treatment will depend on the procedure a patient undergoes. Therefore, an initial consultation and x-rays are required to determine if you will require an extraction or a surgery. 

If a surgery is required, a portion or all of your wisdom teeth surgery fees can be claimed from your Medisave, depending on the complexity of the surgery. Do consult our clinic staff to find out about other flexible payment options too.

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