Wisdom Teeth Removal in Ocean Grove

Wisdom teeth erupt last and often have insufficient room. Some cause no problems and are best left in place. Others are associated with infection or damage to the tooth in front. An examination and x-ray is what distinguishes the two.

Ocean Breeze Dental has cared for Ocean Grove families for over 30 years. To arrange an assessment, call (03) 5255 2584.

Assessment and x-ray first, with a written quote before anything is booked

What wisdom teeth are

Wisdom teeth are the third molars, at the back of each corner of the mouth. They generally erupt between the ages of 17 and 25, after the other adult teeth are established.

Where there is insufficient space at the back of the jaw, a wisdom tooth may become impacted: held at an angle, obstructed by the tooth in front, or retained beneath the gum or bone.

Removal is not always indicated. Many people have wisdom teeth that erupt into a functional position and never require treatment. Where a wisdom tooth is not causing problems and is not likely to, monitoring it at your regular check-up is a reasonable approach and one we will recommend where it applies. We do not remove teeth that do not need removing.

Reasons a wisdom tooth may need removing

Recurrent infection of the overlying gum, known as pericoronitis, which characteristically flares, settles and returns
Decay in the wisdom tooth where it cannot be adequately cleaned or restored
Decay or resorption in the second molar in front, caused by food and plaque trapped against it
Gum disease around the wisdom tooth or the tooth in front
A cyst or other pathology associated with a retained tooth, seen on x-ray
Repeated trauma to the cheek or gum from a tooth erupting at an angle

On crowding of the front teeth

Wisdom teeth are often held responsible for crowding of the lower front teeth. The evidence linking the two is weak, and removing wisdom teeth is not a reliable means of preventing or correcting front tooth crowding. If crowding is your concern, retention after orthodontic treatment is the relevant discussion. We will not recommend removing wisdom teeth on that basis.

How we assess them

An examination alone cannot establish what an unerupted tooth is doing. We take an OPG, a full jaw x-ray, which shows all four wisdom teeth and allows us to assess:

The angle of each tooth and its relationship to the tooth in front
The degree of root formation, which affects how the extraction is likely to proceed
The proximity of the lower roots to the inferior alveolar nerve, which supplies sensation to the lower lip and chin
The proximity of upper roots to the maxillary sinus
Any cyst formation or bone loss

Where the x-ray suggests the nerve lies very close to the roots, a CBCT scan may be recommended to establish the relationship in three dimensions before any decision is made. We do not remove a lower wisdom tooth without imaging.

Following the assessment we will tell you which teeth, if any, we recommend removing, which can be monitored, and whether the extraction is one we would undertake here or one for which you should be referred.

What we do here, and what we refer

We remove straightforward wisdom teeth at the practice under local anaesthetic. That generally covers erupted upper wisdom teeth and lower teeth that have erupted into a reasonable position.

We refer to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Geelong where the case warrants it: deeply impacted or horizontally positioned lower teeth, roots closely related to the nerve, significant medical history, or where you would prefer to be treated under general anaesthetic. Referral means the procedure is carried out by a registered specialist with the appropriate facilities.

What happens on the day

Eat normally beforehand unless instructed otherwise and take your usual medication. Tell us about all medications, particularly blood thinners and bisphosphonates, and about any medical conditions, before the day. If you are having sedation you will need someone to drive you home.

The area is anaesthetised. You will feel pressure and movement during the extraction. Tell us if you feel pain, as further anaesthetic can be given.

Where a tooth is impacted, an incision in the gum may be needed, and the tooth may be divided into sections so it can be removed through a smaller opening. Dividing the tooth generally means less bone needs to be removed. The socket is then cleaned and dissolving sutures placed where the gum was opened. You bite on gauze for around 20 minutes to allow a clot to form. Allow approximately 45 to 60 minutes for a single tooth.

Risks you should know about

Removing a wisdom tooth is a surgical procedure. These are the recognised risks, and we will discuss which apply to your particular teeth, and how likely they are, before you consent:

Altered sensation of the lip, chin or tongue. The inferior alveolar and lingual nerves lie close to lower wisdom teeth. Bruising or injury to either can cause numbness, tingling or altered taste. This is usually temporary but it can be permanent. The risk is higher where imaging shows the roots in close relation to the nerve, and it is the main reason some cases are referred to a specialist.
Dry socket, where the blood clot is lost and bone is exposed, producing pain that typically begins three to four days after the extraction. Smoking is the most significant risk factor.
Infection of the socket, which may require further treatment.
Bleeding, which may be prolonged if you take anticoagulants.
Swelling, bruising and jaw stiffness, which are expected consequences rather than complications, and vary considerably between people.
Damage to adjacent teeth or restorations, including the tooth in front.
Communication with the sinus when removing upper wisdom teeth, which occasionally requires further treatment to close.
Jaw fracture. Rare, and associated with deeply impacted lower teeth.
Retained root fragment. Occasionally a small root fragment is deliberately left in place because removing it would carry a greater risk to the nerve.
The need for a further procedure if the tooth cannot be removed as planned.

Recovery

How quickly people recover varies considerably, depending on how the tooth was positioned, how much surgery was needed and the individual. A simple upper extraction and a surgical lower one are very different experiences. Your dentist will tell you what to expect for your case.

General guidance following a surgical extraction:

Day of surgery. Bite on the gauze for 20 minutes. Some oozing for several hours is normal. Take pain relief as directed before the anaesthetic wears off. Cold packs to the outside of the face, 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off. Do not rinse, spit forcefully, use a straw or smoke, as these can dislodge the clot.
First few days. Swelling commonly peaks around day two or three before improving. Soft foods, avoiding very hot food and drink. Gentle warm salt water rinses from the day after, letting the water fall from the mouth rather than spitting.
The following week. Jaw stiffness and bruising are common. Dissolving sutures generally break down over one to two weeks.

Contact us if

Bleeding has not settled after biting firmly on gauze for an hour
Pain is increasing after day three rather than decreasing
Swelling is spreading, or you have difficulty swallowing or opening your mouth
You develop a fever
Numbness of the lip, chin or tongue has not resolved by the following day

Dry socket is treated by cleaning the socket and placing a dressing, which may need repeating. Do not manage worsening pain at home for a week without contacting us. If you need to be seen urgently, see our emergency dentist page.

How we quote

Fees vary with how the tooth is positioned. A fully erupted upper wisdom tooth and a horizontally impacted lower one are different procedures. For that reason we quote after an assessment and x-ray rather than publishing a figure that would not apply to you.

What you can expect:

An examination first. Any figure we give you is based on your own teeth and x-rays, not an average.
A written treatment plan. It lists every item, the item numbers and the total, and sets out what is and is not included.
Time to check it with your health fund. The item numbers let your fund quote you an exact rebate before you commit.
On the spot claiming through HICAPS, so you pay only the gap on the day.
No surprises. Nothing proceeds until you have accepted the plan, and if anything changes once treatment is under way we talk to you before going ahead.

Wisdom Teeth Removal FAQs

Do all four need to come out at once?

No. Some people prefer all four in one appointment and a single recovery period, others prefer one side at a time so they can chew on the other. Both are reasonable and the choice is yours, unless there is a clinical reason to do otherwise.

Is there a best age to have them removed?

Where removal is indicated, roots are less developed in the late teens and early twenties, which can make the procedure more straightforward. Age by itself is not a reason to remove a tooth that is causing no problems and is not expected to.

How much time should I allow off work or study?

This varies with the procedure and the person, and your dentist will advise based on your case. Booking later in the week gives you the weekend.

Can wisdom teeth be removed during pregnancy?

Non-urgent extractions are generally deferred until after the birth. Active infection is treated rather than left. Tell us how far along you are and we will plan accordingly.

Will I be given antibiotics?

Not routinely. Antibiotics are prescribed where there is active spreading infection or a specific medical indication.

I am anxious about this.

Tell us when you book rather than on the day. We can allow a longer appointment, explain each step in advance, and agree a signal so you can ask us to stop at any point.

Book an assessment

The first step is establishing what your wisdom teeth are doing, which takes one appointment and an x-ray. Call Ocean Breeze Dental on (03) 5255 2584 or book online.

We are at Unit 12, 73 The Terrace, Ocean Grove, with lift access and street parking nearby. Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:00am to 5:30pm, and Tuesday and Thursday until 7:30pm. We see patients from Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, Point Lonsdale, Wallington, Drysdale and across the Bellarine Peninsula.

This page provides general information about a dental procedure. It is not personal dental advice and does not replace an examination. Whether a wisdom tooth needs removing, and what the risks are for you, can only be determined by a dentist after assessment and imaging. All surgical treatment carries risks, which are set out above and will be discussed with you before you consent to treatment.