WISDOM teeth are the last molars on each side of the jaws. They are also the last teeth to emerge, or erupt, usually when a person is between 16 and 20.

Since wisdom teeth are the last permanent teeth to come in, or erupt, there is often not enough room left in your mouth to accommodate them. This can lead to wisdom teeth that are impacted — teeth that are trapped beneath the gum tissue by other teeth or bone. If teeth are impacted, swelling and tenderness may occur.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms include:

• Swelling of the gum in the back of the mouth or on the side of the jaw;

• Difficulty opening the jaw;

• Bad breath;

• An unpleasant taste in the mouth;

• Pain or irritation when you open your mouth;

• Pain when chewing or biting.

Pain can occur for several days and then disappear for weeks or months before returning.

TREATMENT

You can sometimes relieve minor irritation by rinsing with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of water) or by taking over-the-counter painkillers.

If the tooth continues to cause pain, is infected, or is interfering with nearby teeth, the usual treatment is for the tooth to be extracted. This can sometimes be done in your dentist’s office with a local anaesthetic, depending on how far the tooth is under the gum. Extracting one tooth can take five to 30 minutes, depending on the position of the tooth.

People often are referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to have an impacted tooth removed. It is not uncommon to have all the wisdom teeth removed to prevent problems in the future.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM WISDOM TEETH REMOVAL

If the wisdom teeth are impacted and embedded in the bone, an incision is made in the gums and the tooth or teeth are removed in sections in order to minimise the amount of bone being removed.

After surgery, swelling and tenderness in the face and neck are common, as is bruising.

Ice packs, antibiotics and pain medications are prescribed by the dentist or oral surgeon to ease the pain.

Dr Sharon Robinson DDS has offices at the Dental Place Cosmetix Spa located at Shop #5, Winchester Business Centre, 15 Hope Road, Kingston 10. Dr Robinson is an adjunct lecturer at the University of Technology, Jamaica, School of Oral Health Sciences. She may be contacted at 630-4710 or visit the website www.dentalplace4u.com