“Wisdom teeth’ are nothing but the third molars and the last pair of teeth to erupt in your upper and lower jaw. They are considered as an accessory set of teeth. They are not necessarily mandatory in your chewing or biting forces. They usually erupt in your 20s. More often than not, they erupt in a cross, diagonal or outwardly placed manner causing pain and discomfort. Many people get them removed. It is a common procedure. But there are different types of extraction procedures for these wisdom teeth, all with their own steps and costs. It might be simple or a bit complicated. Understand all the factors that play a role in planning a wisdom tooth removal. This will help you understand the pricing details and how we can get you the best affordable treatment.
Why do I require a wisdom tooth removal?
- Impacted wisdom teeth - As wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt in your jaw, they do not have ample place to erupt into. This causes them to get “impacted” in the jaw or under the gums.
- Gum swelling - If they get stuck under the gums, they cause the surrounding gums to swell up. Which is very uncomfortable when you bite. The opposite teeth might hit this swelling and cause pain
- Hitting the adjacent tooth - When the wisdom tooth cannot erupt into the oral cavity straight, it can cross and try to diagonally erupt. In such conditions it keeps hitting the adjacent tooth. The said tooth is now at a risk of loss of tooth structure.
- Food accumulation and cavities - When the surface of the tooth is not easily available to clean, there are more chances of cavities forming. And fillings are usually not recommended in the wisdom teeth as they have more chances of failing.
- For orthodontic purposes - If you are someone who has or has had braces for teeth alignment, the whole alignment might shift a bit as the third molars erupt and push the other teeth forward.
- Cheek bite - The third molars of your upper jaw can sometimes grow in an outward manner, resulting in irritation to the adjacent tissue of the ‘inside’ of the cheek
How can we remove the wisdom teeth
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Normal extraction
If the wisdom teeth have erupted in a decent fashion and enough of the crown structure is exposed in the oral cavity, we can remove them normally under local anaesthesia. This procedure is comparatively cheaper than surgical extraction. In many cases the upper wisdom teeth can be extracted normally with forceps and elevators. -
Surgical extraction
If the wisdom tooth is completely slant or diagonal and is impacted beneath layers of gum and bone, then a surgical extraction needs to be performed. Under local anaesthesia, the dentist will cut open the gum and drill the bone around the tooth, to expose the tooth. The tooth can then be removed in one piece or a piece of the crown may need to be sectioned off.
After extraction, the gums will be closed with sutures which can be removed after a week. In such cases there are many factors like the proximity of the nerve and the placement of the adjacent teeth to be careful of. All these structures can be viewed in a radiograph. This procedure is priced differently from a normal extraction.
Do I need to get all my wisdom teeth removed?
The answer can only be known after seeing a radiograph. But in many cases we suggest getting the wisdom teeth of one side extracted on one day and then plan the rest after a few weeks. Because if the wisdom tooth on the lower jaw is extracted and the upper is left to grow, it might grow into the space left by its counterpart and cause more issues like cheek biting and a sharp discomfort. Getting the wisdom teeth on one side extracted and then planning for the rest can also save up a lot of the treatment expenses.
Wisdom teeth removal is a common occurrence in many patients. But what is not common is living with the pain. We strive to bring affordable treatments to all of our patients so worry not and call us today to get the best deal.
