Wisdom teeth removal in Moorooka

Do your wisdom teeth need to come out?

Not always. Wisdom teeth are the last molars at the back, and they usually come through in the late teens or early twenties. Plenty of people have them come through without any trouble, and those can stay. Some people don’t have them at all.

Problems start when there isn’t enough room. The tooth can get stuck under the gum or come through at an angle (this is called being “impacted”). Then it can:

• push against the tooth in front and damage it
• trap food and bacteria, causing decay or a gum infection around the tooth
• rub against your cheek, causing ulcers and making chewing uncomfortable

If a wisdom tooth isn’t causing any of these, we may simply keep an eye on it at your check-ups.

Signs of a problem

• pain or tenderness at the back of your mouth
• red, swollen gum around a tooth that’s partly through
• a bad taste, bad breath, or pus from the gum
• trouble opening your mouth fully

If you have these now, see our emergency dentist page — we keep time free for people in pain. If swelling spreads to your eye or neck, or you have trouble swallowing or breathing, go to hospital emergency or call 000.

What happens

1. An x-ray and a consultation. A full-mouth x-ray (an OPG) shows where each wisdom tooth sits, its roots, and how close it is to the nerve. We’ll tell you whether it needs to come out and what the cost will be.
2. Removal. Most wisdom teeth can be taken out here in the chair, under local anaesthetic, so you’re awake but the area is numb. Some teeth have to be removed in sections, and the gum may be closed with a few stitches.
3. Harder cases. If a tooth is deeply impacted, sits very close to the nerve, or you’d rather be asleep, we’ll refer you to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, who can remove it under general anaesthetic in hospital.

Wisdom teeth are usually easier to remove in your teens and twenties, when the roots aren’t fully formed and the bone heals faster.

Recovery and aftercare

Soreness, swelling and a little bleeding for a few days are normal. To help it heal:

• bite on gauze to stop the bleeding, and take pain relief as we advise
• for the first few days, don’t rinse hard, spit or drink through a straw — these can dislodge the blood clot that protects the socket
• from the day after, rinse gently with warm salty water after meals
• eat soft food for a few days, and avoid alcohol and hard exercise
• don’t smoke for at least 48 hours

Call us if the pain gets worse after two or three days instead of better, especially with a bad taste or smell. That can be a “dry socket”, where the clot is lost and the socket can’t heal properly. It’s more common in smokers and it’s treatable, so don’t wait it out.

What it costs, and what your fund pays

The cost depends on how difficult the tooth is to remove: one that’s fully through is a simpler visit than one that’s stuck under the gum and has to come out in sections. That’s why we take the x-ray first and give you the cost before anything is booked.

If you have extras cover, your fund may pay part of the cost, depending on your policy. You can claim on the spot with HICAPS.