01.Mesial
Tilted forwards
Leaning towards the tooth in front. This is the most common pattern and can trap food against the neighbouring molar.
Wisdom teeth · Hoppers Crossing
Wisdom teeth, assessed before anything is removed.
Not every wisdom tooth needs to come out. We use imaging to check how yours are positioned and recommend removal only when there is a clear reason.
- 3D imaging
- Sedation options
- Referral if needed
Imaging room · Sayers Dental
About wisdom teeth
The last teeth to arrive, and often short of space.
Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the four teeth at the very back of the mouth, one in each corner. They usually come through in the late teens or twenties, if they come through at all. Some people never develop them.
When there is not enough room in the jaw, a wisdom tooth can become impacted: stuck partly through the gum, tilted against the tooth in front, or held completely within the bone. Some impacted teeth cause no trouble for years; others bring repeated infections or damage to the neighbouring molar.
Your dentist will examine the area and usually take an OPG or 3D scan to see the tooth's angle, its roots and how close it sits to the nerve in the lower jaw. About our imaging.
The Sayers Dental team
Hoppers Crossing
• S •
Positions
How a wisdom tooth can be impacted.
The angle of the tooth affects whether it is likely to cause problems and how involved removal would be.
02.Distal
Tilted backwards
Angled towards the back of the mouth, sometimes partly through the gum.
03.Horizontal
Lying on its side
At a right angle to the other teeth, pressing against the roots of the molar in front.
04.Vertical
Upright but trapped
Correctly angled, but held beneath the gum or bone without room to come through.
When removal may be recommended
Reasons to take one out.
Removal is generally recommended when a wisdom tooth is causing problems, or is likely to damage nearby teeth. A healthy, well-positioned wisdom tooth that you can clean properly may simply be monitored at your regular check-ups.
Your dentist will explain the reasons in your case, the risks of removing the tooth and the risks of leaving it, so you can make an informed choice.
Common reasons
- Repeated gum infection
- Swollen, painful gum over a partly erupted tooth, known as pericoronitis.
- Decay
- In the wisdom tooth, or at the back of the molar next to it where food gets trapped.
- Damage to neighbouring teeth
- Pressure or decay affecting the root of the second molar.
- Cysts
- Occasionally a fluid-filled sac forms around an impacted tooth and can affect the bone.
- Wider treatment planning
- Sometimes considered as part of orthodontic or other dental treatment.
The procedure
What removal usually involves.
Every extraction is planned individually. An upper wisdom tooth that has fully come through may be removed much like any other tooth extraction, while an impacted lower tooth usually needs a small surgical procedure.
- 01.
Numbing the area
Local anaesthetic is used for every extraction, with sedation options discussed for suitable patients.
- 02.
Reaching the tooth
If the tooth is covered, a small opening is made in the gum, and a little bone may be removed to reach it.
- 03.
Sectioning
The tooth may be divided into smaller pieces so it can be removed with less force.
- 04.
Cleaning and stitches
The socket is cleaned and the gum is closed, often with dissolving stitches.
- 05.
Gauze and a clot
You bite on gauze to control bleeding while a blood clot forms to protect the socket.
Comfort and referral
Planned around your needs.
Many wisdom teeth can be removed by our dentists in Hoppers Crossing. If another setting would suit you better, your dentist will explain why.
01.Awake
Local anaesthetic
Suitable for many wisdom tooth extractions. The area is numb, and you can communicate with your dentist throughout.
02.Relaxed or asleep
Sedation options
IV sedation may be considered for suitable patients after a medical review. General anaesthesia is arranged after specialist medical review.
Sedation options: Sedation options03.Referral
Oral surgeon referral
If a tooth sits very deep or close to the nerve, your dentist may recommend referral to a registered specialist oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
Recovery
The first week after removal.
Most people feel noticeably better within about a week, although this varies with how complex the extraction was, the anaesthetic used and how closely aftercare advice is followed. Swelling often peaks around the second or third day.
Contact us if pain gets worse rather than better after a few days, if bleeding will not stop with firm pressure, or if you develop a fever or increasing swelling.
Helpful habits
- Sleep propped up
- For the first few nights, an extra pillow under your head can help limit swelling.
- Cold packs
- Hold a cold pack against the cheek in short sessions on the first day.
- Soft food
- Choose soft, lukewarm meals and chew away from the extraction site.
- Protect the clot
- Avoid straws, smoking and forceful rinsing for the first few days.
- Arrange support
- If you have sedation, a responsible adult needs to drive you home and remain with you afterwards.
Common questions
Wisdom teeth questions.
General information about wisdom teeth. For advice about your own teeth, please book an assessment.
Do all wisdom teeth need to be removed?
No. Wisdom teeth that have come through fully, are healthy and can be cleaned well can often stay. Removal is usually recommended when a tooth is causing problems or is likely to, which your dentist assesses with an examination and imaging.
When should wisdom teeth be checked?
Wisdom teeth are commonly assessed in the mid to late teens, when an OPG can show how they are developing. If removal is needed, it is often more straightforward in younger adults, but people of any age can be assessed.
Is wisdom tooth removal painful?
Local anaesthetic numbs the tooth, gum and surrounding bone first, so during the procedure you should feel pressure rather than pain. Soreness, swelling and some jaw stiffness are common for several days afterwards, and your dentist will advise on pain relief.
What are the risks of wisdom tooth removal?
Common effects include swelling, bruising and jaw stiffness. Less often, a dry socket or infection can develop. For lower wisdom teeth close to the nerve, there is a small risk of numbness or tingling in the lip, chin or tongue, which usually settles but can occasionally persist. Your dentist will explain your individual risks.
How long does recovery take?
Most people return to usual activities within a few days and feel close to normal within about a week. More complex extractions can take longer, and the gum and bone continue healing for several weeks.
Can I be sedated for wisdom tooth removal?
IV sedation may be available for suitable patients after a medical review, and general anaesthesia can be arranged after specialist medical review. Your dentist will talk through what is appropriate for you.
My wisdom tooth gum is swollen and sore. What should I do?
Rinse gently with warm salt water, keep the area as clean as you can and call us for an appointment. If swelling is spreading, you have a fever, or it affects your breathing or swallowing, go to a hospital emergency department or call 000. Dental emergencies.
The next step
Book a wisdom teeth check.
Book an assessment and we'll look at how your wisdom teeth are positioned, whether they need attention and what removal would involve.
Find us
Sayers Dental Aesthetics & Implants
1/483 Sayers Road, Hoppers Crossing VIC 3029
(03) 9749 1178 · admin@sayersdental.com.au
- Tue to Thu9:00am to 5:00pm
- Fri10:00am to 6:00pm
- Sat9:00am to 4:00pm
- Sun and MonClosed
Request a call back
Complete the form and our reception team will be in touch during business hours.
Your information is kept private and used only to respond to your enquiry. See our privacy policy. For urgent dental pain, please call us.