Wisdom Teeth Management

Wisdom teeth are the molars (back teeth) that come through last, usually in your late teens or early 20s.

There are normally four wisdom teeth – two in the upper jaw and two in the lower jaw – but some people have more, fewer, or even none at all. Sometimes, a wisdom tooth comes through at an angle and pushes into the gum or the tooth beside it. This is called impaction. It can be painful, difficult to keep clean and lead to damage to other teeth.

Some wisdom teeth do not cause problems and do not need to be taken out. Other times, they can be removed via a small incision to the gum. This can be done using a local anaesthetic to ensure you feel no pain. However, some teeth are deeply imbedded in the bone and require a more significant surgical procedure, in which case we refer you to an oral maxillofacial surgeon (oral surgeon). This can be done while you are asleep under a general anaesthetic.

We can advise of the right solution for you following an examination.