As a dentist in Stanmore and Edgware, I often get asked if patients need to have their wisdom teeth removed. Unfortunately, there's no one answer that fits everyone. Wisdom teeth can cause problems due to their location and size, leading to swelling, pain and infections. If they're impacted, it's often better to have them removed.

Wisdom teeth are the back-most teeth, typically two upper and two lower. They're the largest teeth and great for grinding up food. However, as we've evolved, our mouths have become smaller, leaving insufficient room for wisdom teeth. They usually erupt between ages 17-21, hence their name.

You'll typically know when your wisdom teeth are coming through. Minor pains are common as the tooth erupts. Your jaw can ache, and if the tooth comes through at an awkward angle, you may feel it rubbing against your cheek or tongue. At Marsh Lane Dental in Stanmore, we can assess your wisdom teeth with a special OPG or Panoral X-ray machine.

While many people have no problems with their wisdom teeth, others experience discomfort, pain, and swellings. Due to their location at the back of the mouth, they're difficult to clean, which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Impacted wisdom teeth, which grow sideways and push against other teeth, can cause red, swollen, or bleeding gums, jaw pain, bad breath, or difficulty opening your mouth.

If your wisdom tooth is impacted, it cannot grow into the correct position and may grow sideways. We can typically see which way they're growing or take an OPG X-ray to check. Swellings around a wisdom tooth can happen at any time, causing the side of your face to become swollen, hot, red, and uncomfortable. At this stage, we usually recommend extraction by our oral surgeon.

If you need your wisdom teeth extracted, we'll refer you to our oral surgeon. If the tooth is impacted, you may need a small cut in the gum to help remove it surgically. If all four wisdom teeth need extracting, we'll usually do one side of your mouth first, allowing you to eat on the other side while it heals. We use the latest X-ray technology to minimize risks, which we'll discuss with you.

Our team at Marsh Lane Dental will give you all the aftercare you need, including medication to help with healing. You can expect some discomfort around the area as the anesthetic wears off, swelling around the jaw, and sensitivity to hot or cold foods. We're always available to talk you through any issues, and you can call us anytime for reassurance or a chat.