One of the most common teeth to cause dental issues, and known to induce nervousness and anxiety in a lot of adults – the wisdom tooth. It’s the last of your 32 teeth to develop in your mouth, and with its late arrival comes many complications.

We’ve taken the time to put together a single source of information surrounding wisdom teeth, in the hopes of debunking some myths around them, clearing up any confusion or questions, and putting your mind at ease when it comes to extraction.

All you need to know about wisdom teeth

We’ve all heard of wisdom teeth – the deep-rooted, large teeth in the back corners of your mouth that erupt later on in life than the rest of your teeth. For many people, the thought of wisdom teeth can induce anxiety and nervousness – but what do you really know about wisdom teeth?

What are wisdom teeth?

Sometimes referred to by dentists as ‘third molars’, people develop wisdom teeth on both sides of the upper and lower jaw. While some people have a set of four wisdom teeth, others have none at all. They’re the final set of teeth to emerge in a human’s life, and are subsequently named ‘wisdom teeth’ as you’re presumably wiser when they emerge!

Why do we have wisdom teeth?

Once necessary in human ancestors for grinding down a diet of roots, leaves, meat, and nuts, these flat molars are no longer required. Humans now cook and soften food, as well as cut and crush food with utensils, making wisdom teeth redundant.

Does everyone have wisdom teeth?

No! Some anthropologists believe that humans have evolved beyond needing wisdom teeth, and as a result some people never get any. However, genetics do cause most people to grow wisdom teeth when they become young adults.

Just because you can’t see all of your wisdom teeth doesn’t mean they’re not there. Sometimes wisdom teeth never erupt through the gums – a quick x-ray will show you whether or not your wisdom teeth are there.

How do I tell if my wisdom teeth are coming through?

While a pain in the back of the mouth can mean your wisdom teeth are coming through, this isn’t always the case. It can be difficult to differentiate between wisdom teeth causing the issue and another problem.

Some quick-fire signs that your wisdom teeth are on their way:

• Pressure or throbbing in your gums
• Swollen or visible cuts at the back of your mouth
• Earaches, headaches or pressure in your sinuses

Signs it’s probably not your wisdom teeth:

• Non-lingering sensitivity to sweet things, heat or cold – this could indicate an exposed root
• A mild, sharp pain when you bite down
• Visible hole in your tooth or staining

Signs you need your wisdom teeth removed

If you’re experiencing pain and discomfort at the back of your mouth, you might be worried that your wisdom teeth could be the cause. This is a source of anxiety for many people, as the idea of having your wisdom teeth removed seems like a terrifying feat.

Here are some of the most common signs that it could, in fact, be your wisdom teeth at the source of your oral pain.

Inflamed Gums

When wisdom teeth emerge, they often grow sideways or at an angle, which can impact other teeth and cause friction in your mouth. Sometimes, as a result of impacted teeth, your gums will swell.

Wisdom teeth erupting through the gum can result in food particles and debris becoming trapped under the gum. Left untreated, this buildup can cause pericoronitis, which is a hot-bed of bacteria that abscesses and causes a sack of fluid and pus.

Sinus Issues

Believe it or not, cold and sinus symptoms such as headaches, sinus aching and general stuffiness can be a sign that your wisdom teeth are coming through – not a bug!

As your wisdom teeth grow and develop, the roots can push against your sinuses that are located right about your teeth. If you’re experiencing pain and pressure, as well as cold symptoms, you could be experiencing wisdom teeth related issues rather than sinusitis.

Persistent Jaw Ache

As your new wisdom teeth come through, if your jaw isn’t big enough to accommodate them, you may feel an associated jaw ache. If you have an impacted tooth or infection, it’s also likely that your lymph nodes will be swollen, adding to the overall stiffness and pain felt in your jaw.

Damage to Adjacent Teeth

Often, dental surgeons opt to remove wisdom teeth from younger people’s mouths before they completely come through and begin to cause problems. If you’re a young adult or adult with a full set of teeth, you might start noticing changes in your mouth as your wisdom teeth come through.

These are just a few symptoms that may help you determine whether your wisdom teeth need to be removed or not.

As always, book an appointment with an oral surgeon for diagnosis and extraction

Wisdom Teeth Complications

There are many reasons why wisdom teeth have grown a reputation for being particularly problematic and require extraction more often than not. We’ve put together a quick list of some of the main issues experienced both before and after extraction.

Pre-surgery

• Wisdom teeth partially emerged: this is a common problem with wisdom teeth – as they begin to emerge through the gum, often there are other teeth or bone that prevent them from fully erupting. This can cause flaps of gum tissue that can trap food residue and other bacteria. The result of this is pericoronitis, which is an infection causing painful and swollen gum tissue around the area of the affected tooth.
• Impacted teeth: often wisdom teeth may become twisted, tilted or displaced as they try to emerge into a mouth that has no room to accommodate them. There are a few types of impacted teeth:
  
• Mesioangular impaction: the tooth is angled towards the front of the mouth.
• Distoangular impaction: the tooth is angled towards the back of the mouth.
• Horizontal impaction: the tooth is angled sideways at a full 90 degrees, and it is growing into the roots of the molar next to it.

Post-surgery

• Dry socket (alveolar osteitis): after your tooth is extracted, a blood clot forms to heal and protect the tooth site. If this blood clot dislodges, dissolves or doesn’t form at all, food particles and bacteria can get lodged in the gap.
• Paraesthesia: dental paraesthesia is a rare complication associated with wisdom tooth removal, where nerve trauma from a complex surgery can result in the onset of parasthesia. The change in sensation that’s noticed may be permanent or partially resolved.

Wisdom teeth pain or growing pains?

There are two kinds of pain that are commonly experienced when it comes to wisdom teeth, both of which can be difficult to distinguish from the other.

Growing pains

Wisdom teeth usually begin to erupt in young adults between the ages of 17 – 25, in both women and men. Most people grow a set of four wisdom teeth in total, and as each of these come through later in life, there are common pains lumped in with ‘growing up’.

Sometimes (if you’re lucky) wisdom teeth will erupt without any issues and little pain. However, more often than not, adult jaws are not large enough to accommodate four new, large teeth. As the tooth breaks the gum and the pressure of your new tooth pushes through, there are some normal aches and pains to be expected.

A bigger problem

Unfortunately, as your wisdom teeth are such latecomers in life, significant and persistent pain can mean there’s something wrong. If there’s not enough room in your mouth for your new teeth to grow, this can bring on a myriad of issues.

If a tooth is impacted (growing sideways and impacting with another tooth), this can cause swelling of the gums, jaw aches, fevers, and abscesses – all of which may indicate that you need to have your wisdom tooth surgically removed.

How long does a wisdom tooth take to grow?

Unfortunately, there’s no real measure of how long it will take your wisdom tooth to grow and begin to erupt in your mouth. The timelines can range from a few months, years – or in some cases, not at all!

Your oral surgeon will be able to advise the placement of your wisdom teeth through observing an x-ray.

Most people are familiar with the nervousness that comes hand in hand with a trip to the oral surgeon clinic. When it comes to wisdom teeth, in particular, this can cause severe anxiety in some patients. Most surgeons will tell you, the most common question they’re faced with is ‘will it hurt?’

Understanding your options for managing pain and choosing the best solution to suit your needs will put your mind at ease, and allow you to relax and have a positive experience.

There are three main types of sedatives and anaesthetics your surgeon may offer you, all of which are safe and carefully monitored during the process.

Local anaesthetic

This comes in the form of a numbing injection directly into the gum at the site of the tooth, similar to what you may have previously had for a filling. You’ll be completely conscious, but don’t worry – you’ll feel no pain at all. Most of the discomfort experienced when using a local anaesthetic is the feeling of foreign dental equipment in your mouth. It’s likely that your tongue and lips may remain numb for a few hours after anaesthetic.

Intravenous Sedation

When you’re sedated during oral surgery, you’ll be in a semi-conscious, sleep-like state. You’ll still be able to respond to your surgeon, but it’s likely that your recollection of the surgery will be a little fuzzy. Typically, you’ll be administered an IV medication before the procedure that will help you feel relaxed and less nervous. Make sure to book yourself a ride home after your surgery as you’ll feel too drowsy to drive.

General anaesthetic

A general anaesthetic is the other end of the spectrum, where through a mixture of inhaled and intravenous medications you’ll be completely unconscious throughout your surgery. Your medication levels will be monitored throughout the procedure by the anaesthetist to ensure you remain unconscious, and when you come to consciousness after the surgery you won’t remember anything.

Which option is best for me?

When deciding which option is best for you, make sure that your surgeon and yourself take into account levels of anxiety, the complexity of the surgery and the cost of the procedure.

As always, the best way to determine the option that is ideal for your extraction is to consult with your oral surgeon.

Wisdom tooth aftercare

Many people focus heavily on their nervousness and the ins-and-outs of their wisdom tooth extraction procedure and completely overlook what happens afterwards.

Making sure that you know what to do when you get home after surgery is essential in reducing the chance of unnecessary pain, swelling, bleeding and other complications.

How do I reduce pain?

Unfortunately, pain is to be expected after wisdom tooth extraction. Your mouth and gums will have experienced a significant amount of trauma, and the pain goes hand in hand with this while you recover.

After surgery, your surgeon will prescribe you with pain relief to help you during recovery. Make sure to follow the pharmacist’s instructions correctly.

The amount of pain experienced depends entirely on the severity of the tooth impaction and surgery, and it can take anywhere from two days to one week to recover.

How do I stop bleeding?

Immediately after surgery, a gauze pad will be placed over the surgical site to apply pressure and reduce bleeding.

When you get home, gently wipe away any excess blood from your mouth and avoid any excessive rinsing or exercise that may increase blood flow. The bleeding will naturally reduce as your gums heal.

How do I minimise swelling?

Often after wisdom tooth surgery, swelling extends to the mouth, cheeks, eyes, and face, especially if more than one tooth was removed.

There are a few things you can do to minimise swelling:

• For the first 2-3 days, apply an ice pack to the swollen areas
• If swelling persists, apply moist heat by using a wet flannel with warm water
• Take the correct anti-inflammatory medication as prescribed by your oral surgeon

What can I eat?

The number one question oral surgeons are asked after surgery: what can I eat?

First and foremost, it’s important to stay hydrated post-surgery to give your body the best chance at recovery. Drink lukewarm water, and avoid using straws (as the sucking motion can dislodge the clot and cause bleeding).

When it comes to post-surgery food, anything that could easily get lodged in the surgical site is a bad option. This could include; popcorn, nuts, and pasta, as any fragments could leave residue behind and cause infection.

Eating soft food is okay, such as soup, eggs, and mashed potato – it helps if you try to chew away from the site of surgery.

Having your wisdom teeth extracted can be a bit of a daunting prospect, especially if it’s your first time or you’re having more that one tooth out at once. With so many people having their wisdom teeth removed, and oral surgeons recommending taking them out before they even start to cause problems, you’re probably wondering why we even have wisdom teeth in the first place!

The evolution of the wisdom tooth is an interesting one to examine. We’re here to answer all of your FAQ’s and deep dive into the mysterious ‘third molar’ with our wisdom teeth fact sheet.

What are wisdom teeth?

• Sometimes referred to by dentists as ‘third molars’, people develop wisdom teeth on both sides of the upper and lower jaw, usually between the ages of 17 and 24. While some people have a set of four wisdom teeth, others have none at all.
• They’re the final set of teeth to emerge in a human’s life and are subsequently named ‘wisdom teeth’ as you’re presumably wiser when they emerge.

Why do we have wisdom teeth?

Many people have asked the question – if we don’t really need our wisdom teeth, then why do we develop them in the first place? The answer can be found in our anthropology, lineage and genetics.

• The human ancestor subsisted largely on a diet of raw meats, roots and leaves. They didn’t have the privilege of cooked food and convection ovens, and therefore needed an extra set of molars to grind down their foods in their raw form. Of course, through evolution our palates have changed and we prefer softer foods. We also have the means to cook, soften and cut our foods, making our wisdom teeth redundant.
• Over time, human’s physiology has also changed and developed. Once upon a time, we had the jaw capacity to house an extra set of molars. The 2019 human typically doesn’t have enough room in their mouth to fit wisdom teeth once they emerge without impaction.

Why do wisdom teeth come through so late?

• Tooth development takes place in a chronological and organised order. Your adult set of teeth begins to grow over a course of years from ages 6-12. Wisdom teeth are the last to actually begin to form, around age ten. Because of this, they’re also the last in the timeline to erupt in the mouth.

Why do wisdom teeth need to be removed?

Occasionally, wisdom teeth do come through later in life and cause no complications. If there’s enough room in your jaw to accommodate the new teeth, and the erupt on a good angle without touch any of your nearby molars, you won’t need to have your wisdom teeth removed. However, they are notorious for complications resulting in extraction – here’s why:

• Your wisdom tooth hasn’t emerged at all and is impacted (or trapped) within your jaw. This can be extremely painful, and sometimes result in infection, a cyst, or damage your teeth roots and bone. In this case, you’d need to have your tooth surgically removed.
• Your wisdom tooth has only emerged partially through your gums. Once your tooth has cut through the gum, it’s easy for bacteria and food residue to become trapped and cause an infection. As these teeth are right at the back of your mouth, this area can be quite difficult to clean, increasing the risk of infection.
• There’s too much crowding in your mouth, and there’s no room for your wisdom teeth to go. This can result in your wisdom teeth pushing against your other teeth, moving them out of line and possibly damaging them.

How do you know if you need your wisdom teeth removed?

There are a few tell-tale signs you can look out for if you suspect your wisdom teeth may be causing issues.

• If you’re experiencing pain when biting down or opening your mouth on one side, and the gum around your back molar seems inflamed, this could be sign of infection as a result of an impacted wisdom tooth.
• Headaches, stuffiness, and sinus aches can often be symptoms of a wisdom tooth issue at play. While your wisdom teeth roots develop, they can push the sinuses located right above your teeth.
• The roots of your wisdom teeth are deep, and can have an impact on your jaw. If you’re experiencing swollen lymph nodes, stiffness and jaw pain, it’s likely your wisdom teeth are the cause of the issue.

Of course, there’s no substitute from seeking professional advice if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms. Get in touch with our team for a consultation.

You’ve got an oral surgeon appointment, you’re ready to wave goodbye to your wisdom teeth – but are you ready to take care of yourself post-surgery?

The extraction of wisdom teeth is a surgical procedure that should be taken seriously, and making sure that you know what to do when you get home is vital for your recovery. Be wise, even after surgery.

Here are out helpful suggestions to make sure that you reduce the chance of unnecessary pain, swelling, bleeding and other complications.

Pain

Unfortunately, pain is to be expected after wisdom tooth extraction. Your mouth and gums will have experienced a significant amount of trauma, and the pain goes hand in hand with this while you recover.

There are plenty of ways to offset this and make sure you’re as comfortable as possible. After your surgery, your oral surgeon will likely provide you with pain relief. It’s important to follow the instructions given correctly, and take your pain relief medication as recommended.

How quickly it can be before your pain reduces is entirely dependent on the severity of the tooth impaction and how it was erupting. It can range from anywhere between a few days to a week.

If ever you feel you’re experiencing an unusual level of pain or discomfort, get in touch with your oral surgeon for advice.

Bleeding

For the first 24 hours after your surgery, expect slight bleeding or redness in your saliva. That’s a normal part of the process as the site of surgery begins to clot and heal.

A gauze pad will immediately be placed over the surgical site to apply pressure and help reduce bleeding.

Gently wipe away any excess blood from your mouth, avoid excessive rinsing or exercise which may increase blood flow, and treat your mouth with extra care.

The bleeding will naturally reduce as your gums heal. If the bleeding persists, again, it’s important to get in touch with your oral surgeon for advice.

Swelling

A lot of people only expect to experience swelling of the gums post-op – but this usually isn’t the case. Often the swelling extends to the mouth, cheeks, eyes and side of the face, especially if more than one tooth was removed (it’s usually proportionate to the extent of surgery). This is due to bruising and is the body’s natural response to surgery in the process of healing.

That being said, you can do a few things to help minimise swelling. For the first two to three days, we’d recommend applying an ice pack to the side of your face. If swelling persists any further, the application of moist heat (usually by wetting a flannel with warm water) is also likely to help.

Often, taking your prescribed pain medication can assist with the swelling. If you’re taking the right precautionary steps, you should be able to minimise the time it takes for your mouth to recover.

Diet

This is usually the biggest question oral surgeons are faced with – what can I eat after surgery?

It’s important to stay hydrated once you get out of surgery to give your body the best chance for recovery. Drink lots of lukewarm water and avoid using straws as the sucking motion can dislodge the clot and cause more bleeding.

As for the first food you consume, do your best to eat soft foods such as soups, eggs or mashed potato, and make sure to chew away from the site of surgery. If you can stick to a high calorie and protein diet, that’s ideal for quick recovery.

What should you avoid?

Anything that could easily get lodged in the surgical site is a red flag. Eating foods like popcorn, nuts or pasta could leave residue behind and cause infection. Treat your surgical site like an open wound, and avoid getting anything foreign in there that shouldn’t be.

What to do if something isn’t right?

The answer to that is simple. Consult your oral surgeon.

At NSOMS we really care about our customers’ oral health, before, during AND after surgery. Feel free to get in touch if you’re concerned and we’ll make sure you get the best care.

We’ve written a list of helpful post-operation information here. If pain persists, give us a call or get in touch for an appointment.

If you’re not quite at the stage of booking an appointment and want to know whether wisdom tooth extraction is right you, we’ve put together a helpful blog on what causes wisdom teeth problems.

 

Formally known as third molars, their common name or what they’re notoriously known by is ‘wisdom teeth’ as they present themselves a lot later than your other teeth, therefore coming across as more ‘wise’ than your earlier teeth.

Wisdom teeth normally burst onto the scene between the ages of 17-25 in both sexes. It’s common for most adults to grow four wisdom teeth in each of the four quadrants of your mouth. While they’re always fashionably late to the party they’re also commonly painful when they arrive.

Types of Pain Caused by Wisdom Teeth

The interesting thing about wisdom teeth is there are two types of wisdom teeth pain you can experience; the kind of pain that indicates a potential problem and the kind of pain that is often lumped in with growing up. Since wisdom teeth present themselves later in life they can cause some problems due to other adult teeth being in place already. Wisdom teeth need to push up through your gums which is where the pain and discomfort come from. People often experience a range of symptoms which come and go over the course of wisdom teeth coming through.

Impacted wisdom teeth are when wisdom teeth are unfortunately growing sideways and therefore impacting other teeth. It is when the wisdom teeth are impacted that the aches and pains usually come and go over time.

Common complications when infected include:

• Red, inflamed gum near the wisdom tooth.
• Swelling
• Pain
• Fever
• Bad breath
• Pus coming from the gum
• Swollen/sore lymph nodes underneath the jaw.
• Difficulty opening the mouth and swallowing food
• Headaches
• Earaches

When your wisdom teeth are coming through, it’s important to keep a close eye on making sure no food gets trapped when the teeth are slowly breaking the gums as this can lead to an abscess and can cause quite a bit of pain, and any trapped debris in this part of your mouth can cause infections which leads to swelling. In these cases, wisdom teeth will need to be removed as it can cause further complications and pain.

How Long Does a Wisdom Tooth Take to Grow?

Unfortunately, there is no time frame that wisdom teeth commonly grow in. It can either take up to eight months or just never at all.

There is no right or wrong list when it comes to your wisdom teeth, its advised that you pay close attention and take care of them during the growing through the process to avoid any complications as wisdom teeth can often for some people grow through with no issues or symptoms at all. Contact your dentist immediately if you notice any pains which are out of the ordinary for you.

Alternatively, if you already know you need to say farewell to your wisest teeth, contact NSOMS today to schedule an appointment.