Facts about Wisdom Teeth

Posted by Lucy petterson on January 2nd, 2020

What are wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the large teeth at the back of your mouth. They are the last teeth on both sides on the lower and upper jaws. Wisdom teeth are the third molar an adult would have. They grow in very late, usually between the ages of 17 to 25 years.Just like any of the other teeth, the wisdom tooth too can get cavities, get decayed, grow at wrong angles, or get stuck below / inside the gum line.

In this write up, we discuss the treatments related to wisdom teeth pain and infection.

How infection may occur?

• Wisdom teeth are located at the very end of your jawline. They may get infected as they’re the hardest to clean. Added to this, it is easy to miss cleaning/ flossing the space between the wisdom teeth and the hind of the mouth, thus creating a breeding ground for infection causing bacteria.

• Impacted wisdom tooth does not grow correctly through your gums. They might partially emerge or grow out at an angle. Such impacted or partially impacted wisdom teeth are at high risk of infection as having a tooth at a different angle makes them more prone to bacterial growth, causing decay to the wisdom tooth or the molar next to them.

Treatment for a wisdom tooth infection

Treatment for a wisdom tooth infection may involve- dental procedures, a complete tooth removal or even simple medication to treat the tooth pain. If the pain is sudden, you may need to meet an Emergency Dentist South East London. He would thoroughly examine your teeth and take an X-ray of the area if required to determine the best kind of treatment for you.

Medications

Firstly, a dentist would prescribe antibiotics to clear up the infection in a wisdom tooth. Such medication generally has a 7 to 10day course. This would help in healing the infection and arresting the infection from spreading. It is after this that the dentist would be able to decide if the wisdom tooth would require a repair or complete removal.

The next process

If the wisdom tooth has a cavity, the dentist would clear it and fit it up or place a crown on the top.

If the wisdom tooth seems rough and has bumpy edges, which aid in trapping food, creating a nesting ground for bacteria, then he may file down the top or sides of the tooth and make it smooth. This is also done when the tooth is creating overcrowding to make it slightly smaller.

If the wisdom tooth is damaged, your dentist may want to partially or completely remove it with minor surgery.

Otherwise, the dentist may just do a coronectomy. This is a dental procedure for removing only the top part of the wisdom tooth. This way, the tooth roots, nerves, and the jawbone remain unaffected.

Facts about surgery on the wisdom tooth

A wisdom tooth removal is a slightly complicated procedure than any other tooth. Such surgery is a pre-planned process and you would not require seeking services of an emergency dentist South East London for it. A wisdom tooth removal surgery is done under local anesthesia or at times, even general anesthesia. The procedure usually takes about 20 minutes to an hour. Sometimes the dentist would feel it fit to section and remove the tooth in pieces. This would ensure no harm is caused to the nerves or the jawbone.

A wisdom tooth removal could be accompanied by possible side effects like jawbone weakness, bleeding, a feeling of numbness in the tongue / lower lip/chin, or a mouth infection. Such an infection could even occur two weeks post-surgery, so ensure to take a short visit to the dentist to get yourself re-checked post the surgery. Such an infection could be treated with a simple dose of antibiotics.

Home remedies

NO. Home remedies would not be able to treat a wisdom tooth infection. But yes, certainly some things could give you temporary relief from pain and discomfort. These would help you while you wait to see the dentist. Some of these remedies are
• Saltwater rinse.
• Using a mix of equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and drinking water as a mouthwash.
• Cold compress
• A swab of clove oil application onto the wisdom tooth

The Mindful Dentist

The Mindful Dentist is the most recommended emergency dentist South East London. They offer a wide range of dental services right from general check-ups, teeth whitening South East London to complicated orthodontic procedures. Call 0208 771 7888 or drop an email at info@mindfuldentist.london and schedule an appointment now.

Visit www.mindfuldentist.london to get to know more!

Come, restore your teeth at The Mindful Dentist now. Be it your wisdom tooth issues or desire for teeth whitening South East London, the Mindful Dentist is there for you!!