What is wisdom tooth?
The wisdom tooth actually refers to your third molars. Everyone has a natural complement of 32 adult teeth in their lifetime. Some has more, a condition called hyperdontia whereas those who have less than the natural complement of 32 teeth has a condition called hypodontia. The third molar will be the last adult tooth to erupt and it normally surfaces around 18-21 years
of age.
How is a wisdom tooth removed?
The wisdom tooth can be removed either via simple wisdom tooth extraction or in the case of an impacted wisdom tooth it can be removed via a wisdom tooth surgery.
In the first instance, the tooth is extracted without any need for surgery and the procedure is normally done under local anesthesia.
In an impacted tooth or in a difficult tooth extraction, wisdom tooth surgery needs to be performed in order to remove the wisdom tooth.
Wisdom tooth surgery can be done under local anaesthesia or general anaesthesia. In local anaesthesia, the surgeon will administer local anesthetic and proceed with the surgery once the surgical site is numb.
An incision will be made at the surgical site and bone and tooth exposed.
Bone may need to be removed in some cases to enable the wisdom tooth to be elevated and the wisdom tooth may also need to be sectioned or cut to facilitate the removal.
Once the impacted wisdom tooth is successfully delivered, the surgical site will be irrigated and cleansed.
A resorbable or non-resorbable suture will be used to close up the surgical site.
In some cases, closure with sutures may not be necessary.
We use gentle measures and offer anesthesia to make tooth extractions as easy and comfortable as possible.
