Wisdom Teeth

Signs You May Need Your Wisdom Teeth Removed

Not every wisdom tooth has to come out. Some sit comfortably, come through straight and cause no trouble at all. The ones that need attention usually let you know. See your dentist if you notice any of the following:

• Pain or tenderness at the very back of your jaw, on one side or both
• Swollen, red or bleeding gums around an emerging back tooth
• A bad taste or persistent bad breath that doesn’t clear with brushing
• Difficulty opening your mouth fully, or pain when biting and chewing
• A tooth that has only partly come through, with a flap of gum over it that keeps getting sore
• Recurring infections in the same spot

Catching a problem early often means a simpler procedure and an easier recovery. If you’re unsure whether your wisdom teeth need looking at, a check-up and X-ray will give you a clear answer.

How Wisdom Teeth Erupt

When they do erupt, most often you will find that they are:

• Crooked – lying sideways, leaning against another tooth or squished up straight next to the neighbouring tooth, all of which can cause pain, decay and infection.
• Impacted – not fully erupted, some of the tooth remains beneath the gum, rendering it useless for chewing and potentially causing damage to your remaining healthy teeth.
• Decayed – often difficult to reach with a tooth brush, as well as cause decay in other teeth.
• Infected – infections are easily treated, but unless the tooth is extracted, it will continue to remerge.

What to Expect at Your Wisdom Teeth Consultation

Before any treatment, we assess your wisdom teeth to work out whether they actually need to come out and, if so, how straightforward the removal will be. A typical consultation involves:

• An examination of the back of your mouth, your gums and how your teeth fit together.
• An X-ray, usually an OPG (a single image that captures your whole jaw). This shows where each wisdom tooth sits, how its roots are shaped and how close it is to the nerve and your other teeth.
• A clear explanation of what we find, whether removal is recommended, and whether it’s a simple extraction or a more involved surgical one.
• A plan and a quote so you know what’s involved, how many appointments you’ll need and what it will cost before you commit to anything.

Taking the time to plan properly means fewer surprises on the day and a smoother recovery afterwards.

Wisdom Teeth Removal Sedation Options

Before a wisdom tooth is extracted, we will discuss your options for sedation. Usually a local anaesthetic works fine, with all you feeling is some pressure as your tooth is being removed. We’ll talk through the right approach for you at your consultation.

• Local anaesthetic is the most common option. The area is fully numbed, so you stay awake but feel only pressure, not pain. It suits most straightforward extractions.
• Sedation options include oral sedation, IV sedation or general anaesthetic. It all depends on your anxiety level, if several teeth are being removed at once, or if a tooth is more difficult to reach. Sedation helps you stay calm and relaxed throughout the procedure.

If you’ve had a bad experience at the dentist before, or the thought of the procedure makes you nervous, let us know. We’ll explain your choices and help you feel comfortable with the plan before anything goes ahead.

Worried about your wisdom teeth? Call 9259 5774 or book online for an assessment.

Wisdom Teeth Removal Costs

There’s no single price for wisdom teeth removal, because no two cases are the same. The cost depends on a few things:

• How many teeth are being removed.
• How the tooth is sitting – a fully erupted tooth is a simple extraction, while an impacted or angled tooth needs a more involved surgical procedure.
• If any sedation is used.
• Whether imaging such as an OPG X-ray is needed beforehand.
• If the tooth can be extracted in the chair, or if an Oral Surgeon is required to remove it.

The only way to know what your treatment will cost is to have your wisdom teeth assessed. After your consultation, we’ll give you a clear, written quote covering everything involved, so there are no surprises.

As a guide, a simple extraction of one fully erupted wisdom tooth starts from $250.

Health Fund Rebates and Payment Options

If you have private health cover with extras, your fund will usually pay a rebate towards wisdom teeth removal. The amount depends on your level of cover and your annual limits.

Herald Avenue Dental Centre is a preferred provider for HBF, HCF and NIB, which can mean lower out-of-pocket costs if you’re with one of these funds. We use HICAPS so you can claim your rebate on the spot and only pay the gap.

For most adults, general dental treatment isn’t covered by Medicare. Some patients may be eligible for assistance through a public scheme — you can read more on our rebates page.

To help spread the cost, we also offer interest-free payment options through Afterpay, Zip and humm. See our payment plans for details.

Ready to find out what’s involved for you? Call 9259 5774 or book online.

After Extraction

After extraction, you will most likely feel pain in your gum and jaw areas, together with some swelling and bleeding over the first few days. Your dentist will offer after care advice, which may include:

• Taking paracetamol or another recommended pain relief medicine
• Eating soft foods and avoiding hot or cold drinks
• Using a salty mouthwash after the first 24 hours

Recovery and Aftercare: What to Expect

Most people are back to their normal routine within a few days, though it can take a few weeks for the gum to fully heal. A simple extraction tends to settle faster than the removal of an impacted or surgical tooth. Here’s a rough guide to what recovery looks like and how to help it along.

The first 24 hours

• Bite gently on the gauze pad to help a blood clot form. This clot is what protects the socket while it heals, so it needs to stay in place.
• Rest, and keep your head slightly raised. Avoid strenuous activity, bending and heavy lifting.
• Don’t rinse, spit forcefully or poke at the area. Don’t use a straw, and don’t smoke — the suction can dislodge the clot.
• Use an ice pack on your cheek, twenty minutes on and twenty minutes off, to keep swelling down.

The first few days

• Swelling usually peaks around two to three days after the procedure and then eases off. Some slight bruising may occur and is normal.
• From the day after surgery, rinse gently with warm salty water a few times a day, especially after eating.
• Keep brushing your other teeth as normal, but stay clear of the extraction site until it’s settled.
• Take pain relief as advised by your dentist. If pain is getting worse rather than better after a few days, give us a call.

Settling in

• Stick to soft foods until chewing feels comfortable, then gradually return to your usual diet.
• Stitches, if you have them, either dissolve on their own or are removed at a short follow-up visit.

Foods to Eat After Wisdom Teeth Removal

For the first day or two, stick to soft, lukewarm or cool foods that need little or no chewing. Good options include:

• Yoghurt, custard and smooth puddings
• Mashed potato and well-cooked, soft vegetables
• Scrambled eggs
• Soup and broth (warm, not hot)
• Smoothies and milkshakes — spooned, not through a straw
• Soft pasta, oats and porridge

For the first few days, avoid anything that can disturb the healing socket: crunchy, hard or chewy foods, nuts, seeds, chips, spicy dishes, and very hot food and drinks. Skip alcohol and caffeine while you’re healing, and leave the straw in the drawer.

What Is Dry Socket?

Dry socket is the most common complication after a tooth is removed, though it’s still uncommon overall. It happens when the protective blood clot in the socket comes loose or breaks down too early, leaving the bone underneath exposed. It usually shows up two to four days after the extraction.

The main signs are a dull, throbbing ache that can spread towards your ear, a bad taste or smell, and pain that gets worse instead of better. Lower wisdom teeth are more prone to it than upper ones.

You can lower your risk by following your aftercare advice closely — in particular, not smoking, not using straws, and not rinsing or spitting forcefully in the first 24 hours. Dry socket is easily treated, so if you think you have it, call us. We can clean and dress the socket to ease the pain and get healing back on track.

Wisdom Teeth FAQs