Wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth are often troublesome. They may be difficult to clean or they do not fit in the mouth. We recommend having a dentist check your wisdom teeth before the age of 25. Most people have their wisdom teeth erupt by 25.
If wisdom teeth are difficult to clean, we recommend removing them. If the teeth have not erupted yet, the mouth should be X-rayed so that the dentist can assess whether the wisdom teeth will be problematic later.
Symptoms caused by wisdom teeth
Pain is the most common symptom caused by wisdom teeth. The pain may range from slight ache to severe pain and swelling. There may be discharge and it may be difficult to open the mouth.
Wisdom teeth may cause pain even if they are not visible. An unerupted tooth may open the gingival pocket, causing inflammation in the tissue and jawbone surrounding the tooth.
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When to remove wisdom teeth?
The dentist checks whether the wisdom teeth have erupted, whether they are easy to clean and whether they fit in the mouth.
The human jawbone has become smaller due to evolution, which is why there is often not enough room for wisdom teeth. If your wisdom teeth are difficult to clean or if they do not fit in your mouth, we recommend removing them.
It is often a good idea to remove wisdom teeth even if they have not erupted or caused any issues yet. A wisdom tooth in your jaw may become aggravated later, and it is easier to remove wisdom teeth from 25-year-olds than 55-year-olds. When we get older, our bones get tougher and the roots of the tooth may grow longer, twisting around a sensory nerve in the lower jaw. Younger people are also more likely to recover quickly from a wisdom tooth operation.
How are wisdom teeth removed?
If the wisdom teeth have fully erupted, the dentist can pull them out. First, the dentist numbs the area around the tooth with local anaesthetic. The procedure may be very quick and easy. The jaw may be tender and swollen but the symptoms will ease off within about 24 hours.
If the wisdom teeth have not fully erupted, they require surgery. The surgical removal of one wisdom tooth takes about 30 minutes, and the removal of all four teeth takes an hour. Recovery takes three to seven days.
The surgery is usually performed using local anaesthesia, but if the patient is very anxious, for example, a general anaesthetic may also be administered. Relaxing pre-medication is also possible. Everyone gets a little anxious before their wisdom tooth operation. There is nothing wrong or abnormal about being scared of the procedure.
Dental imaging methods have been significantly developed over the years, and the dentist can locate unerupted wisdom teeth in X-rays more accurately than in the past. Therefore, wisdom tooth surgery is generally a safe procedure. Nevertheless, it should be planned well.
Price for wisdom tooth removal
The price for wisdom tooth removal depends on the nature of the extraction. The dentist evaluates whether the tooth can be removed without surgery.
• Wisdom tooth removal without surgery EUR 95–199*
• Wisdom tooth removal with surgery EUR 324–645*
*Price when performed by a dental specialist (oral surgeon or oral and maxillofacial surgeon) +30%.
The wisdom tooth removal method depends on the following:
- The wisdom tooth removal method depends on the following:
• Shape of the root
• Degree of eruption
• Position of the tooth
• Condition of the crown (visible part of the tooth)
The mouth is often X-rayed before the removal unless recent X-rays are available.
Book a dental check-up to receive an evaluation of the necessary procedure for removing your wisdom tooth.
Book an appointment for a dental check-up
What is pericoronitis?
Pericoronitis is inflammation of the gum tissue connected to wisdom teeth. The inflammation develops beside a partially erupted tooth, collecting pus next to the crown. A local antibacterial rinse or gel may alleviate the symptoms, but the inflammation remains and reappears until the tooth is removed.
Therefore, pericoronitis is treated by removing the tooth.
Book an appointment for a dental check-up in Mehiläinen’s booking system or by calling our customer service: 010 273 8000 (0,0835 €/call + 0,1669 €/min).
The specialist for the article was dental specialist and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Olli Teronen.
