When you come to Harley Street Dental Clinic in London, you are taking advantage of our in-depth of knowledge about your teeth, gums, mouth and supporting structures. While you don’t need to know everything that we know to place your trust in your dentist in Harley Street, sometimes it helps you get comfortable with a treatment when you know more about what’s going on.
A bit of extra knowledge about your teeth also helps you identify any issues you might be having. It can also help you to take better care of your smile. Today we are looking at wisdom teeth.
What are wisdom teeth?
A wisdom tooth is the third molar at the back of your mouth. It grows in last and there’s one in each of the four corners of your arches. Most people get their wisdom teeth in between the ages of 17-25. The dentist in Harley Street can see wisdom teeth on an x-ray to check how they are coming through.
What are the common issues with wisdom teeth?
As wisdom teeth are right at the back, they are the teeth that are hardest to clean. This means they are prone to decay. To take good care of them, you need to be using extra cleaning tools like floss or interdental brushes.
The most prevalent issue that occurs in relation to wisdom teeth is impaction. This is where the tooth begins to grow through crooked or there is no room for it to grow in at all. If this happens, your dentist in Harley Street may recommend extraction.
What happens when a wisdom tooth is extracted?
Wisdom tooth extraction is a relatively simple procedure and usually takes less than an hour. It can often be done using local anaesthetic alone. For particularly complex cases or for nervous patients, a general anaesthetic or extra sedation may be necessary.
After wisdom tooth extraction, it is important to be gentle with yourself and the areas where your teeth have been removed. You may feel a little sore or swollen for a while afterwards. When you have wisdom tooth extraction at Harley Street Dental Clinic, we offer you plenty of care advice and tips on making yourself comfortable.