Wisdom Teeth in London
It is often the case that the wisdom teeth, acting to erupt, are prevented by the teeth in front. As a result, the wisdom teeth will be partially or fully below the level of the gum (more commonly known as impaction). This can cause an infection around the wisdom teeth or cause problems with neighbouring teeth. We are one of the country’s leading clinics for complicated wisdom teeth extraction. Dr Javier Perez our oral surgeon has pioneered his own techniques to remove wisdom teeth in the most gentle and safest methods using innovative surgical techniques. We have removed over 5000 + wisdom teeth over the years. We have a national reputation for complex removals with patients coming from all over the UK. Dr Javier Perez is available at our Dental Care Centre clinic and at our sister clinics Dulwich Dental Office and Camden High Street Dental. You may call all 3 clinics to find out the earliest availability with Dr Javier Perez.
What are wisdom teeth?
A wisdom tooth, or a third molar, is one of the three molars of human dentition. In most cases, they erupt at the back of our gum at the jaw corner towards the late teens and early twenties.
Adults mostly have four wisdom teeth, which means one in each of the four quadrants. Wisdom teeth can affect other teeth when they grow and become impacted because there is no room for their eruption.
Wisdom Tooth Pain and Complications
The lack of room in the human jaw can result in either a tilted eruption or failure of the eruption of the wisdom teeth. Both cases are called impacted teeth. The complications of an impacted wisdom tooth include
- Impacted teeth are characterised by wisdom tooth pain, which occurs at the back of our jaws when wisdom teeth try to come out. The pain may radiate to the TMJ or ear and cause severe headaches. • Impacted wisdom teeth can trap food and bacteria, initiating a build-up of plaque, which results in further dental complications such as gum disease and tooth decay.
- When a wisdom tooth partially erupts, a soft tissue covers the crown. Food may be trapped below this soft tissue and may be very difficult to clean, leading to what is called pericoronitis.
- Untreated caries of the wisdom teeth may lead to dental abscess formation that may extend to pus spread in the facial tissues (cellulitis) causing severe pain and facial swelling.
- A wisdom tooth that has not cut through the gum may develop a benign cyst or a fluid filled swelling.
However, extraction of some impacted wisdom teeth is not advised when they do not cause other dental problems.
Why to Extract Your Wisdom Teeth at Dental Care Centre
Our experienced dental surgeons at the practice offer wisdom teeth extractions as part of their services.
- Cutting-edge technology: We have a three-dimensional CT scanner often found in hospitals, enabling us to determine the extent of the wisdom teeth roots and their approximation to vital structures before the extractions.
- Comfortable process: Sedation is available for teeth extraction if needed. We will discuss all applicable guidelines and instructions with you and adhere to National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidelines.
- Non-invasive procedure: The periodontium may need to be retracted around the tooth’s crown before removing the wisdom tooth. We have the latest technology, such as the Piezotome, to allow our dentists to perform low, minimally invasive treatments.
Tips for recovery following wisdom teeth extraction
Do’s
- Use ice packs to prevent swelling and skin colour changes
- Exercise your jaw by slowly closing and opening your mouth
- Stay hydrated
- Start brushing your teeth after one day, unless advised otherwise
- Only use the painkillers prescribed/advised by our surgeons.
Don’ts
- Eating hard or sticky food
- Drinking fizzy drinks
- Using a straw to drink, as it may loosen your blood clots for the first 48 hours
- Smoking
- Rinsing your mouth for the first 24 hours
FAQS
Wisdom teeth are the third molar tooth erupting at the end of the jaw. They erupt at around 17-25 years old. In some cases where there is no space for their eruption, they become totally or partially impacted.
Signs and symptoms of oral infection caused by a wisdom tooth may be red & itchy gum near the wisdom tooth, swelling, pain, pus oozing from the gum, the lymph glands under the jaw becoming swollen and sore, difficulties opening the mouth, and fever.
When wisdom teeth get impacted but are not causing trouble, they do not need to be removed. Their removal is recommended because of the extensive range of difficulties that may result from the impaction, such as gingival inflammation, tooth decay, periodontal affection of the neighbouring teeth, and infection.
A wisdom tooth may be extracted by a general dentist, or you may require a referral to a specialised oral surgeon. Before the procedure begins, the area will be numbed by an anaesthetic injection. You may feel some pressure when your tooth is being pulled. The oral surgeon should loosen the tooth socket by rocking back and forth. In some situations, a cut might be required in the gum, and your tooth may be cut into small pieces before it gets removed. In the case of fully impacted wisdom teeth, minor surgery is required where our expert surgeons have to cut through the soft tissues and remove some bone to get access to the impacted tooth.
The time required to remove the tooth will vary from person to person. Some procedures take only a few minutes, whereas others may require 20 minutes or more.
The wisdom teeth extraction is performed under local anaesthetic effect in addition to sedation if required. Following the surgery, you may experience mild pain or discomfort related to the extraction site, similar to regular extractions. This discomfort can be managed through the prescribed medications and should subside within a few days.
Like any other surgery, there is a minimal chance of experiencing some complications following wisdom teeth extraction, such as: Swelling or inflammation of cheeks and mouth Bleeding A dry socket: in which a blood clot does not form into the tooth socket or if the blood clot gets dislodged Nerve injury: that may be the reason for temporary or permanent problems like numbness and pain Infection: which shows signs of white discharge from extraction, high temperature, constant pain, and swelling
Following wisdom teeth extraction, you should avoid eating hard or sticky food, drinking fizzy drinks, using a straw to drink as it may loosen your blood clots for the first 48 hours, smoking, and rinsing your mouth for the first 24 hours.
It takes three to four days on average, though this can fluctuate wildly. Timing is highly dependent on the degree of impairment or eruption and can sometimes take up to two weeks.
Wisdom tooth extraction costs range from £300, depending on the complexity of extraction. The estimated fees also do not account for any additional costs of X-rays or additional nonsurgical procedures.
Our Wisdom Tooth Surgeon
Dr Javier Perez
Dr Javier Perez graduated in dental surgery in 2010. His clinical practice is focused on dental implants and oral surgery, from simple single tooth replacements to complex reconstructions involving both soft and hard tissues.
Dr Javier has completed a Masters in Implant Dentistry MClinDent (Implant) in London over three years and was awarded a diploma in Oral Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons of England, one of the most prestigious colleges in UK.
Dr Perez has trained in Oral Surgery at the Maxillofacial Unit in the Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in South England. He is at the forefront of dental implants and oral surgery regularly attending National and International conferences to develop his skills and learn about the latest trends in Implantology.
At Dental Care Centre New Cross our implant team have placed over 5000 implants, often undertaking and being referred cases from other practitioners. We also consult and treat cases where you may have been told that you are unsuitable for dental implants. Having assembled one of the countries leading dental implant teams we can treat the most advanced and complex cases here at Dental Care Centre New Cross.
Outside of work Dr Javier spends the majority of his time with his young family, recently welcoming a new son (October, 2021). He enjoys spending weekends exploring London, especially going to local food markets.
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If you require local dentist in London or any type of private or NHS dental treatment in New Cross, Brockley, Crofton Park, Ladywell, Forest Hill, Rushey Green, Nunhead, Peckham, Blackheath, Lee Green, Greenwich, Dulwich, Lewisham, Perry Vale, Camberwell, Downham, Sydenham, Bellingham, Millwall, Eltham , Rotherhithe, Surrey Docks, Herne Hill, Penge, Bermondsey, Gipsy Hill, Grove Park, Crystal Palace, Tulse Hill, Thornton Heath, Charlton, Bermondsey or Deptford contact the Dental Care Centre today.
