Should Wisdom Teeth be Removed?

DCP Employee

Your Adelaide Dentist for the Entire Family

Healthy wisdom teeth are an asset to your mouth. However when they grow poorly positioned or unhealthily, they can cause problems.

When wisdom teeth do not fully erupt, an opening in the gum is created around the tooth allowing bacteria to enter. This area may become infected causing pain and swelling. The area may also become a food/ plaque trap causing toothache on the wisdom tooth or the tooth in front of it.

If a wisdom tooth grows in sideways, it can also become trapped in between the bone, the gum and the tooth in front of it. This can cause infection and intense pain.

Regular check-ups with your dentist allows them to monitor, track and assess the health and position of your wisdom teeth. Keeping you informed on the state of your Wisdom Teeth as they are forming.

To prevent potential infection, your dentist may recommend removing your wisdom teeth; a common procedure in dentistry.

If you have any questions about your wisdom teeth, ask your dentist

Wisdom teeth: Should they stay or go?

Wisdom teeth, also referred to as third molars, get their name by being the last teeth to develop and come through during young adulthood. As part of your regular dental visits, your dentist will examine your mouth and teeth to determine if your wisdom teeth are healthy and properly positioned.

Every patient is unique, but in general, wisdom teeth may need to be removed when there is evidence of changes in the mouth such as:

  • Pain
  • Infection
  • Cysts
  • Tumors
  • Damage to Adjacent Teeth
  • Gum Disease
  • Tooth Decay

Wisdom teeth removal

Your dentist or a specialist may recommend removing your wisdom teeth to prevent health or infection problems or for other reasons, such as when removal is part of an orthodontic, restorative or periodontal treatment plan.

In addition, the condition of your mouth changes over time, which makes it wise to monitor wisdom teeth that are not removed. Wisdom teeth have the potential for developing problems later, long after they have erupted (pushed through the gum to show the whole tooth).

As with many other health conditions, as people age, they are at greater risk for health problems and that includes potential problems with their wisdom teeth. Regular dental visits are important for allowing your dentist to evaluate not just your wisdom teeth, but your overall oral health to help you prevent and manage dental disease as well as achieve optimal oral health.

dcp logo

Have a Question you’d like to ask our Dental Care Professionals?

For a complete list of the different treatments we use to give patients the smiles, you may like to explore each of the sections below.

Crowns & Bridges

Crowns & Bridges

If it hurts when you bite down, it is possible that your tooth is cracked. If a tooth is cracked, it is a serious condition and does usually require a crown.

Inlays & Onlays

Inlays & Onlays

Where there is minor damage to tooth enamel, inlays and onlays are often recommended as an alternative to fillings or a crown because they preserve a great deal of the natural tooth.

Sports Mouthguards

Sports Mouthguards

Dental injuries can be painful, disfiguring and expensive to treat. Specially-designed mouth guards can reduce the risk and severity of dental injuries.

Amalgam Fillings

Natural Coloured Fillings

The latest techniques and composite resins designed colour matched to your natural tooth shades.

Dental Implants

Dental Implants in Brighton and Adelaide

One of the most significant developments in modern dental medicine is the application of dental implants, which has led to them becoming one of the most popular dental procedures of today.

Root Canal Treatment

Root Canal Treatment in Brighton and Adelaide

Endodontic treatment is more commonly known as root canal therapy. Advancements in dental medicine and the development of specially designed instruments, means a root canal procedure can be accomplished in complete comfort in as little as two appointment visits.

CEREC logo

CEREC – Single Visit Dentistry

Advanced CEREC machine enables our dentists to create and fabricate your new restoration in a single appointment – saving you time and expense.

Regular Dental Maintenance

Regular Dental Maintenance

An appropriate dental education and treatment plan from your initial consultation helps you to establish improved oral health for pleasing and vibrant smiles.