Wisdom Teeth Removal and Treatment at Bondi Dental in Sydney

Wisdom teeth, like wisdom, come with age.

Wisdom teeth are one of the most common types of dental extractions that we help our patients deal with here at Bondi Dental in Sydney. Even though wisdom teeth are a common dental health issue that many people will have go through, there are a lot of misconceptions about wisdom teeth.

Call Bondi Dental on (02) 9365 3988 for any queries about your wisdom teeth.

We'd like to help answer some frequently asked questions about wisdom teeth and their relationships to your overall oral health.

What are wisdom teeth, and why are they important?

Wisdom teeth are molars – big teeth used for grinding food while you chew. Wisdom teeth are located at the very backs of your top and bottom jaws; most adults have four wisdom teeth. However, unlike the rest of your molars, wisdom teeth do not emerge until later in life. People typically lose their baby teeth and get most of their permanent teeth whilst still in the primary school years – but wisdom teeth arrive a bit late to the party. Most people get their wisdom teeth around the age of 17-25, as the wisdom teeth descend (or arise) from below the gum line.

However, wisdom teeth often create problems for people's dental health. The truth is: wisdom teeth actually aren't very "wise."

Call Bondi Dental on (02) 9365 3988 if you are concerned about your wisdom teeth.

What kinds of problems are caused by wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth often create trouble for neighbouring teeth. As wisdom teeth erupt from the gum line and grow into place within a person's rows of existing teeth, they often exert pressure ("crowding") on the other teeth, or can cause food particles and bacteria to be trapped in the mouth, resulting in infections and gum disease. Another problem with wisdom teeth is their tendency to hunker down inside the jawbone and become impacted – which means that the wisdom teeth are stuck within the jawbone. There are other types if impacted wisdom teeth – for example, some wisdom teeth grow sideways (rather than growing straight up like a normal tooth would). Other wisdom teeth only partially break through the surface of the gum line and then get stuck in place, which can lead to infections and gum disease.

Call Bondi Dental on (02) 9365 3988 to discuss your wisdom teeth.

Does everyone need wisdom teeth removal?

Some people are fortunate enough to have all four wisdom teeth erupt and grow into place normally, however, because the wisdom teeth are so far back in the mouth, it is very hard to keep them clean and the chance of decay is very high. It is quite common for many people to have some level of difficulty with their wisdom teeth. Many people in Australia get their wisdom teeth removed as a preventive measure - sometimes it's easier to just remove them before they get a chance to cause problems.

One tip to keep in mind is that wisdom teeth are often easiest to remove when people are younger. So if you're in your teenage years, that might be the perfect time to get wisdom teeth removal. If you wait until you're in your 30s (or later), there can be added challenges and complications. So don't delay!

For more information on wisdom teeth treatment, or to schedule an appointment to get your own wisdom teeth looked after, please contact Bondi Dental on (02) 9365 3988.

How do I know if I need to get my wisdom teeth removed?

If you're aged 16 or older, chances are that your wisdom teeth will soon be coming in. Many high school and university students get their wisdom teeth removed during semester holidays; it's practically a rite of passage to adulthood in some areas of Sydney.
At Bondi Dental, wisdom teeth removal is one of the most common dental procedures. You don't need to be afraid of the process; it's just part of growing up. Whilst some lucky people don't have any problems with their wisdom teeth and are safe to leave their wisdom teeth in place, most of us will need to have wisdom teeth treatment to correct or prevent dental health problems.

So how do you know if you need to have your wisdom teeth removed? Sometimes people come into Bondi Dental in Bondi Sydney for emergency treatments either because of severe toothache from their wisdom tooth or a swollen face. This is a very clear sign that you will need to remove your wisdom teeth. However, if have your regular dental check-ups at Bondi Dental, our dentist, Dr. Andrew Sih will inform you at the time of examination as to the situation of your wisdom teeth and whether you will need to remove them, to prevent the onset of any crisis.

Impacted wisdom teeth

This is a condition where your wisdom teeth are not growing in straight, and get stuck. Sometimes wisdom teeth will grow in at a slight angle, and other times wisdom teeth will be completely sideways! Your dentist will monitor the progress of your wisdom teeth when you get dental X-rays. If your wisdom teeth are completely encased within your jawbone, that is called a "bony impaction." If your wisdom teeth have partially emerged from the gum line (these are often visible when you look in the mirror; it's just like a new tooth coming in) and then gotten stuck in place, this condition is called a "soft tissue impaction." Bony impactions often cause problems because the wisdom teeth can put pressure on the neighbouring teeth or can even interfere with the roots of nearby teeth - thus causing significant dental health issues.

Call Bondi Dental on (02) 9365 3988 if you need your wisdom teeth assessed.

Infections

If you have a "soft tissue impaction," even if there is no danger to the neighbouring teeth, this can still be a problem because food debris and bacteria tend to get trapped inside the soft tissue around the wisdom tooth. This can lead to infections and gum disease; in severe cases, a bacterial infection in your mouth can move to other parts of your body and cause problems for your overall health. For these reasons, wisdom teeth need to be carefully watched as they grow into place – if there are any signs of a soft tissue impaction, your dentist will likely recommend that you get your wisdom teeth removed.

Call Bondi Dental on (02) 9365 3988 to arrange an appointment to test for soft-tissue impaction.

Well-grown in wisdom teeth that need to be removed anyway

With wisdom teeth, sometimes you just can't win. Even if all four of your wisdom teeth have grown in normally and seem to pose no immediate problems, depending on your situation you might still want to have the wisdom teeth removed. The reason is that wisdom teeth, being located way at the back of the mouth, tend to be very difficult to keep clean. It's hard for most people to brush – and more importantly, floss – their wisdom teeth regularly or thoroughly enough, thus increasing the chances of decay. Therefore, just as a preventive measure, dentists will recommend that all wisdom teeth be removed.

For more information on wisdom teeth treatment, or to schedule an appointment to get your own wisdom teeth looked after, please contact Bondi Dental Sydney, by calling (02) 9365 3988.

Wisdom teeth removal - what to expect

If you need to have your wisdom teeth removed, you might be feeling nervous about the procedure. No one likes to have oral surgery, but sometimes it’s unavoidable – and with wisdom teeth removal, it’s often best to just get it all done at once rather than drag out the process for months and years.

At Bondi Dental in Sydney, our dentist Dr. Andrew Sih, has performed thousands of wisdom teeth removals during his career. He can help to put your mind at ease and guide you through a comfortable and successful process of getting your wisdom teeth removed. In cases of impacted wisdom teeth when surgical procedures are required, Dr. Terry Yuen, our Oral Surgeon will perform the procedure.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek the opinion from an appropriately qualified health practioner.

  For more information on wisdom teeth, or to schedule an appointment for wisdom teeth treatment, please contact Bondi Dental on (02) 9365 3988.