Wisdom Teeth
Our Clinical Services
Wisdom Teeth
Your wisdom teeth, also known as the third molars, are located at the top and bottom corners furthest back in your mouth. They are typically the last of your adult teeth to develop. These teeth may erupt between the ages of 18 and 25, and while it is a common occurrence, some wisdom teeth may not be able to erupt (or emerge) completely inside your mouth. As a result, they may be partially or fully buried in the bone and become impacted.
Due to the impaction, you may not be able to keep your wisdom teeth clean and they may become decayed or infected. If this happens, you can experience substantial pain and swelling in the jaw or even have difficulties opening your mouth entirely.
At AOMF Surgery, our specialist oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr Andrew Ow, is well-experienced in managing impacted wisdom teeth of different complexities. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, make an appointment for a consultation with our specialist today.
Common Issues Caused by Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Impacted wisdom teeth can be fully impacted in bone or partially impacted, where only part of the crown of the tooth passes through the gums. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause several painful symptoms, significantly affecting your chewing function and daily routine.
Due to the impaction, food can get trapped around these wisdom teeth. If you are unable to keep the wisdom tooth clean, you may experience pain or discomfort in the area of the wisdom tooth. This pain or discomfort can increase in intensity if it results in an infection and can spread to adjacent jaw muscles and side of the face.
Due to the abnormal angle and position of the wisdom tooth, food trapping around the impacted wisdom tooth can occur. This can lead to inflammation / infection and swelling of the gums surrounding the wisdom teeth, a condition known as a pericoronitis. If symptomatic impacted teeth are left untreated, this mild infection can progress and spread to the surrounding tissue fascial spaces, leading to facial swelling and limited mouth opening, and in severe cases, difficulty in breathing.
As the abnormal position of impacted wisdom teeth makes them difficult to clean, trapped food debris will result in bacterial growth around these teeth. If left untreated, the bacteria can cause tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath, not only on the impacted wisdom tooth, but also around the adjacent teeth.
In certain cases, some of these impacted wisdom teeth can develop cystic changes. If left untreated, these cysts around the impacted wisdom teeth can grow very large, and if they become infected, they can cause significant pain and swelling. In severe cases, it can also cause a pathologic fracture of the lower jaw.
Pain and Discomfort around the gums
Due to the impaction, food can get trapped around these wisdom teeth. If you are unable to keep the wisdom tooth clean, you may develop an inflammation around the gums surrounding the wisdom tooth. This condition is known as a pericoronitis, As a result, you will experience pain or discomfort in the area of the wisdom tooth. This pain or discomfort can increase in intensity if it results in an infection and can spread to adjacent jaw muscles and side of the face.
Dental Decay, Gum Disease and Bad Breath
Food trapping around impacted wisdom teeth can cause dental decay of the wisdom teeth and even dental decay of the adjacent molar. Gum disease can also develop around the impacted wisdom teeth due to poor oral hygiene. These conditions can result in pain and discomfort around the wisdom teeth and even cause bad breath.
Infection, Facial Swelling and Limited Mouth Opening
If symptomatic impacted teeth are left untreated, an infection can develop and spread to the surrounding tissue fascial spaces, leading to facial swelling and a limited mouth opening. In severe cases, hospitalisation to treat such severe cases will be required.
Cystic Changes
In certain cases, some of these impacted wisdom teeth can develop cystic changes. If left untreated, these cysts around the impacted wisdom teeth can grow very large, and if they become infected, they can cause significant pain and swelling. In severe cases, it can also cause a pathologic fracture of the lower jaw.
Dental and Medical Assessments
You are required to attend a thorough dental assessment before your wisdom tooth removal surgery. This assessment is vital to determine the severity of your oral health condition from the emergence of wisdom teeth.
The Consultation Process
1. Comprehensive Dental Examination
You will undergo a thorough dental examination in which our professional dentists will check the conditions of your gums and teeth, mainly focusing on the area where your wisdom teeth are found. Our dentists will look for signs of gum disease and infection, wisdom teeth impaction, or visible damage to adjacent teeth.
2. Dental Imaging Tests
Our dentists will request an X-ray scan of your mouth to get a clear image of your teeth, including the areas your wisdom teeth may affect. This is especially useful to determine the exact location of your impacted wisdom teeth and detect any symptoms of damage to your nerves or mouth structures.
3. Personalising Treatments
The assessment results will help our dentists tailor a safe and effective treatment to solve any issues regarding your wisdom teeth, which will likely be wisdom teeth extraction or removal surgery. Here, you will discuss your oral health with our surgeons, including any medications and supplements you are consuming and the sedation method of your choice for your dental surgery.
Recovery Do's And Dont's
After removing your wisdom teeth, you may experience pain and swelling that typically lasts three days and, at most, a week. Follow these dos and don’ts as your oral surgeon advises to ensure a stable and speedy recovery.
- Maintain proper oral hygiene by brushing and flossing your teeth daily, not over the extracted areas, but for your other teeth, to avoid the risk of infections.
- Put an ice pack over the affected area for 20 minutes and remove it for 20 minutes. Repeat this practice several times a day for two days to reduce swelling.
- Take medications as prescribed by your surgeon to reduce pain and minimise your risk of infection. Only stop taking medication with your surgeon’s advice.
- Get plenty of rest and avoid physically demanding activities for several days. Avoid sleeping on the same side where you had your wisdom tooth removal done.
- Consume hard, chewy, and crunchy foods as they may be too sharp for your gums that still need to rest and heal.
- Use straws or smoke as these actions could potentially dislodge blood clots due to the sucking motion, causing dry sockets, which can be painful to your eye, ear, neck, and temple on the same side of your tooth removal.
- Consume alcohol as it can slow down the process of healing by thinning blood and dislodging blood clots.
- Lifting heavy loads and intense exercise can increase your blood pressure, which may cause bleeding and swelling in the extracted area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about wisdom tooth removal surgery? Find the answers you are looking for right here.
- It is advisable to have a check-up to assess if your wisdom teeth are impacted or if they are likely to cause any problems in the future
- If you have already been experiencing pain or swelling around the wisdom teeth, it may be necessary to have them assessed or even removed to prevent further problems
- To find our more, make an appointment with our specialist oral surgeons today so that you can be appropriately advised on the risk and benefits of keeping or having your wisdom teeth removed
One can experience pain and swelling in the jaws or even a reduced mouth opening due to the following problems with the wisdom teeth:
- Infection of the gum surrounding the wisdom tooth (due to food trapping)
- Dental decay affecting the wisdom tooth or even the adjacent molar tooth
- Erosion or resorption of the roots of the adjacent molar
- Cyst formation around the wisdom tooth
- A thorough history and clinical examination including x-rays are performed
- In high risk cases or where a pathology is suspected, additional x-rays or cone beam CT scans may be needed
- Once the examination is completed, the need for wisdom teeth removal, including the risk and benefits of removal or keeping the teeth will be explained
- If the wisdom teeth are indicated for removal, an appointment for surgery can be scheduled at your convenience
- Same day appointments for wisdom teeth removal are available
- Impacted wisdom teeth are removed via a quick and painless minor surgical procedure
- This minor surgery is done at the clinic and are performed by experienced specialist oral surgeons under strict infection control
- Same day appointments for wisdom teeth removal are available
- At least 5 – 7 days of hospitalisation leave will be granted if needed
- Medication will be prescribed to make you comfortable after the surgery
- If so desired, IV sedation services or even a general anaesthesia at private hospitals can be arranged
We understand that having a tooth removed or any oral surgery can be a nerve-wrecking experience. However, our warm and friendly staff will do their utmost to make you feel as comfortable as possible.
Rest assured as well, that all procedures are done by trained and experienced oral surgeons. If so desired, IV sedation services or even a general anaesthesia at private hospitals can be arranged.
- If you are a Singaporean or Permanent Resident, you will be able to use your Medisave to cover part of, or all of the cost of the surgical procedure
- Speak to our clinic staff at 6276 7276 to find out more about your financial options
Contact Us
- Location
101 Irrawaddy Road #11-05
Royal Square Medical Centre
Singapore 329565
- Contact Details
Number: +65 6276 7276
Email: enquiries@aomfsurgery.com
- Working Hours
Monday to Friday: 9.00 AM – 5.30 PM
Saturday: 9.00 AM – 12.30 PM
Sunday & Public Holidays: Closed
