Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth — the last set of molars to come through, usually in your late teens or twenties — are a common source of dental pain, largely because there's often simply not enough room in the jaw for them to emerge properly.
Ready to book your appointment?
Send us your details and we'll be in touch — usually within one working day.
Not every wisdom tooth needs removing.
The most common cause of pain is a lack of space, meaning the tooth pushes against neighbouring teeth or only partially breaks through the gum. An abnormal position (an impacted wisdom tooth) can cause ongoing discomfort and, in some cases, pericoronitis — inflammation of the gum tissue around the tooth.
An examination and x-ray will show exactly how your wisdom teeth are positioned, and whether they're likely to cause ongoing problems or settle once fully through. Many settle on their own; extraction is for the ones that don't.
Signs your wisdom teeth are the problem.
The signs vary, but most people notice one or more of these:
- 01Pain or tenderness at the back of the jaw
- 02Swollen, red gum over a partly erupted tooth
- 03Discomfort when opening your mouth fully
- 04A bad taste or bad breath around the area
- 05Pain when biting on that side
- 06Mild fever alongside gum swelling
Why they hurt.
The most common culprits:
Don't wait it out.
Speak to your our practice dentist if you're experiencing any of the following — book an appointment as soon as you can:
- —Pain at the back of the jaw that keeps returning.
- —Swelling of the gum or side of the face.
- —Difficulty opening your mouth or swallowing.
- —A bad taste, discharge or fever around the tooth.
In discomfort right now?
Swelling, fever or difficulty opening your mouth needs seeing promptly — call us and we'll arrange an urgent appointment to settle the infection.
A plan, not a quick fix.
After an examination and x-ray we'll explain your options clearly — monitoring, treating the gum inflammation, or extraction where a wisdom tooth is impacted or repeatedly causing problems — with aftercare guidance for a comfortable recovery.
