Wisdom teeth are the last molar teeth in the mouth; some people have all their wisdom teeth, while others may only have one or none. Wisdom tooth removal may be carried out by either a general dentist or a specialist oral surgeon. This typically depends on the amount of wisdom teeth to be taken out and how difficult their removal will be. This can be evaluated on a dental x-ray by your dentist.
To undertake the procedure, your dentist or specialist will numb the teeth and gums to ensure the process is as comfortable as possible. For wisdom teeth that are positioned normally, the procedure can be very straightforward and the tooth can be extracted with relative ease. Though, for wisdom teeth that are sitting underneath the gums and jawbone, a surgical extraction is required. This involves a small incision being made into the gum and the tooth being cut into pieces, which enables your dentist to remove the tooth more easily.
Wisdom tooth extraction may be carried out in the dental chair with local anaesthetic, though some patients prefer to be sedated under general anaesthetic. Your dentist can help you decide which option is best for you.
