Wisdom Teeth
The lower third molar behind usually does not have enough space to erupt properly. A partially erupted wisdom tooth is more prone to gum abscess and decay which can lead to problems like tooth crowding, pain and swelling in teens and adults. Therefore proactive removal is recommended.
Your wisdom teeth are the last set of molars to erupt at the back of your mouth. It usually appears between your late teen years to early twenties. Most times, there is not enough space for them to erupt properly, which leads to impactions, pain, swelling and damage to nearby teeth.
Do I Need A Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
Most people will need their wisdom teeth removed while others won’t ever need to remove theirs. Commonly, people in the early twenties would require removal in certain situations, as stated below:
- Partial or full eruption causing pressure and crowding
- Deep decay or active gum disease
- Pain and swelling
- Cysts development
- Lack of space
It’s difficult to keep the wisdom teeth clean as they are right at the back of your mouth. That’s why they are more prone to develop infections that keep recurring unless removed. Therefore, proactive removal of third molars is ideal to prevent damage to the adjacent teeth.
Your Comfort Is Our Priority
We will ensure that you are comfortable before and during the surgical procedure through the use of an aesthetics and the gentle yet experienced hands of our dentists. The surgery site will be completely and adequately numbed so that you feel comfortable throughout the procedure.
What Can I Expect?
A wisdom tooth evaluation will include a complete checkup and x-rays to determine the exact position and size of each tooth. If the wisdom teeth needs to be removed, the dentist will plan for your surgery.
On the day of surgery, we will administer local anaesthetic medication around the teeth that are indicated for removal. An opening is made in your gums and the molars are taken out, oftentimes in bits and pieces. This is followed by placement of medication into the socket to aid in healing and stitching up of the gums to close up the wound area. The entire procedure takes about an hour or less.
You’ll need to take a few days off from work or school while you recover. We will give you a set of written instructions with contact information to bring home so you can be in touch with us in case something isn’t healing properly. We suggest you to take different kinds of soft foods for the next few days , like yoghurt, pudding, porridge etc. Cold compresses also helps to alleviate post-surgery swelling.
WISDOM TOOTH CONSULTATIONS
Do contact us at Kent Dental Works to schedule an appointment for examining your wisdom teeth. Payments can be done using Medisave (fully claimable by Medisave) Do bring along your NRIC and Medisave statement (electronic or hard copy) so you can go cashless. Alternatively, pay a deposit in cash, which is fully refundable upon receipt of payment from CPF if you can’t provide the statement.
Wisdom Tooth Pain and Swelling
Wisdom tooth pain and gum infection commonly occur right behind at the lower back part of the mouth. The pain and swelling can last for days and don’t usually get better on its own. It’s important to quickly make an appointment to see the dentist to get it sorted out or it could worsen into a facial swelling, fever or toothache affecting the second molar.
Wisdom tooth extraction starts from $150 per tooth, exclude X-rays and medications fees. You are able to use Medisave to pay fully for the wisdom tooth surgery, which includes X-rays, medication and sterilisation & disposable fees. Fees range from $650 to $1250 for surgery.
You can only claim subsidy for the wisdom tooth extraction under the CHAS scheme. However, surgery is not covered under CHAS. You can use Medisave instead. Speak to out dental team for more clarification.
Wisdom tooth pain and swelling is a common dental problem we see at the dental clinic. The good news is we do wisdom tooth surgery in the dental clinic as a day procedure under local anaesthesia. You are able to go back home right after the surgery once the bleeding has stopped and stabilised.
Recovering from a wisdom tooth removal procedure can take time. It’s important that you know how to care of your teeth and gums and help speed up the recovery period after surgery. Be careful that you avoid any hot foods and beverages for the first 24 hours. Stick to a soft diet and liquids for the first week. Avoid chewing food at the back of your mouth where the stitches are present. Rest as much as possible and take the painkillers and antibiotics prescribed for your dentist to help relieve any discomfort. Recovery can take a few days to a week so take it easy for the first few days, although in most cases, you can resume work or school or normal activity after the first day. Avoid rinsing your mouth during the first 24 hours after the procedure. After that, you should rinse after every meal with warm salt water or non alcohol mouthwash to remove food debris from the socket. For the first few days, keep your head elevated when you sleep. Use pillows to elevate your upper body to 45 degree angle. Find a comfortable position while elevating your head and shoulders above the level of your heart. Finally, don’t forget to schedule a follow up appointment with your dentist to make sure your socket heals properly. The dentist would be able to check for any infection or conditions that may hinder the recovery process.
