Wisdom Teeth

When your teen begins their transition into adulthood, that signals it’s time to have a wisdom teeth exam in Charters Towers and the surrounding areas. What makes it easy is visiting a dental practice with experienced dentists and a team who makes the entire process simple and understandable.

At GoldCity Dental Centre, our dentists, Dr Girish Basavaraj, Dr Jason Teoh and Dr Ankita Clarke, all have many years of experience helping patients determine what to do about those sometimes troublesome back teeth. We aim to get ahead of any potential problems, like impacted wisdom teeth, by watching them carefully while your children are still young. Then, through consistent dental exams and helpful imaging technology, we can predict how their molars will erupt, preventing numerous painful conditions.

Why We May Need to Remove Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, do not always require extraction. Some people have four wisdom teeth, some have three, and a minimal number never develop them at all. However, dental statistics suggest that up to 90 per cent of people must remove at least one wisdom tooth. So in the likely event they become symptomatic, opting to have your dentist extract them can prevent future problems like decay, infection and overcrowding.

Wisdom teeth usually appear in the late teens and early twenties. They often cause pressure, pain and swelling as they begin to erupt through the gums. But sometimes, a lack of space causes wisdom teeth to grow in at odd angles. This condition is called impaction.

The Serious Problems Associated with Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Our distant ancestors subsisted on hearty plant matter and root vegetables, nuts, and seeds in past millennia. Our third molars were instrumental in grinding down those harder foods. But as our species discovered fire and cooking, we didn’t need to grind our food as much.

For many generations, our dental arch has become narrower. So now, most people have less room in their jaw for their wisdom teeth to erupt completely. But insufficient space does not stop tooth growth, so most people have third molars that twist and turn, becoming impacted.

Impacted teeth can cause numerous problems that will increase in intensity until the molar is removed. These include:

  • Intense tooth pain
  • Headaches and jaw pain
  • Soft tissue infection called pericoronitis
  • Damage to adjoining second molar
  • Overall teeth misalignment
  • TMJ disorders and improper bite

The best course of action is to extract wisdom teeth before they become thoroughly impacted.

How We Monitor Third Molar Progression

Your GoldCity Dental Centre professionals will use a panoramic x-ray or 3-D cone beam image to identify the location and condition of third molars well before they appear above the gumline. Then, based on what we see, our dentists will provide a recommendation based on the needs of each patient.

If you decide to keep your wisdom teeth and your Charters Towers dentist does not foresee any problems, we will stress the importance of their hygiene. We will recommend you give them special attention when brushing and flossing. Because they are so far back, these teeth are more likely to develop decay, which also threatens the surrounding gum tissue with infections and eventual gum disease.

Wisdom Tooth Extraction in Charter Towers

Our approach to wisdom teeth extractions is more comfortable, predictable and efficient because of our carefully selected dental technology. Once we take comprehensive diagnostic x-rays, our dentists can plan the entire surgery in advance and discuss each facet of treatment so you’re entirely comfortable with the process. 

Our dentists will offer you options if we need to remove more than one-third of the molar. For example, some patients prefer having upper and lower wisdom teeth extracted on one side and then addressing the other later. But if you’re one of our many patients who travel a great distance to reach our clinic, you may decide to have all wisdom teeth removed all at once.

Sedation Options for Wisdom Tooth Extraction

For many third molar extractions, a local anesthetic is sufficient for our expert dentists to maintain your comfort during the procedure. But depending on your unique circumstances, you may want to select a dental sedation option to make the treatment go smoother.

GoldCity Dental Centre can refer you to our trusted colleagues for several different sedation options for these cases. For more information on this course of treatment, please consult with a team member.

Extraction After-Care Is Vital

Anytime a dentist removes a tooth, it leaves behind a void we call an empty socket. We recommend carefully protecting this socket and the blood clot that seals it shut. If we’ve placed gauze in your empty socket, we recommend keeping it in place as long as possible to encourage a more solid clot to form.

During the first few days of healing, we recommend strict adherence to the following guidelines:

  • Eat only soft foods and healthy smoothies, avoiding sugary options
  • Avoid hot drinks or drinking through a straw
  • Reduce swelling with a cold compress or ice pack on their cheek
  • Pain relief using over-the-counter remedies
  • No vigorous exercise
  • Try to rest for at least 36 hours post-surgery

Our team makes every effort to ensure minimal discomfort and will arrange any necessary after-care visits to monitor healing.

Are Wisdom Teeth Causing You Pain?

Let our GoldCity Dental Centre team help. Our dentists are gentle and caring, making the process of removing wisdom teeth as painless as possible. In addition, our focus on technology makes removing teeth a routine and predictable procedure.

We welcome you to contact us to arrange an appointment for yourself or your teen today.