Wisdom Teeth
It may be necessary to remove wisdom teeth if they become affected by recurrent infections (such as pericoronitis). This causes acute pain, reduced opening, swelling, serious gum disease and tooth decay. It can also lead to impaction of your teeth, or the development of cysts.
What can my Quality Dental NHS Dentist Fulham do?
Local anaesthetic will be used to surgically remove wisdom teeth, or patients can also be referred to specialist surgeons if sedation and general anaesthetic is necessary - this depends on the level of difficulty of the procedure, and will take place at a hospital or clinic. Hospital waiting times are currently very long, due to fund shortages and the need to employ trained specialists.
Your wisdom teeth will be assessed and inspected at Quality Dental Fulham, and then further appointments will be made for the extractions.
What should I expect following the extractions?
- There may be some oozing from the socket for a few hours after the procedure. Bony spicules occasionally outline the edges of the socket, but these will be reabsorbed, separated or exfoliate as it heals. Symptoms will generally pass rapidly, and disappear within a week.
- Bruising and stiffening is not uncommon, and difficulty in opening your mouth wide might occur. Again, this should pass within a week or two.
- Discomfort or pain can be treated with normal painkillers (e.g ibuprofen or paracetamol, but not aspirin). Antibiotics might be prescribed by your dentist.
Are There Any Complications?
- Sometimes, the sockets of wisdom teeth become infected. This will result in the swelling, stiffness and pain to last longer than expected.
- Certain patients may experience numbness or tingling in the tongue or lower lip. This is caused by the nerve supply to the lip being located below the bottom wisdom teeth.
Nerve supplies may be bruised by the procedure, and can be damaged permanently.
- It is possible to be bruised by the procedure.
If any of these symptoms occur, please get back in contact with Quality Dental Fulham.