Wisdom teeth · St Helier
Wisdom Teeth Removal in Jersey
Not every wisdom tooth needs to come out. We check whether yours is causing a problem and explain your options. When removal is the right answer, Dr Sharad Patel usually takes it out here at Castle Quay.
★★★★★Rated 5.0 on Google
At a glance
Whousually Dr Sharad Patel
First stepan examination and X-ray
Anaestheticlocal, with sedation if you’re nervous
Time offmost people need a day or two
Approachwe follow NICE guidance
The basics
What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to come through, right at the back of the mouth, usually between the ages of 17 and 25. Most people have four, one in each corner, though some people have fewer or none.
Because they arrive last, there often isn’t enough room. A wisdom tooth that can’t come through properly, because the tooth in front or the bone is in the way, is called impacted. It may stay completely under the gum, or come part of the way through.
An impacted wisdom tooth isn’t a problem in itself, and many cause no trouble for life. What matters is whether it’s causing disease, or is likely to, and that’s what we check.
In short
- Usually arrivebetween 17 and 25
- Impactedcan’t come through fully
- No problems?usually best left alone and monitored
- Removalwhen there’s a clear reason
Should it come out?
When to remove a wisdom tooth, and when to leave it
We follow NICE guidance, which advises against removing healthy wisdom teeth just in case, and recommends removal when a tooth is causing disease.
Usually best left alone
- It has come through fully, works with the tooth above or below it, and you can keep it clean
- It’s impacted but completely buried, with no infection, decay or damage to the teeth around it
- You’ve had one mild episode of gum inflammation over it (pericoronitis) that settled
- You’re worried about your front teeth crowding: wisdom teeth aren’t the cause, so removing them won’t help
Usually better out
- Repeated infections of the gum over the tooth (pericoronitis), or one severe infection
- Decay in the wisdom tooth that can’t be repaired, or decay in the tooth in front that can’t be treated while it’s there
- An abscess or infection spreading into the surrounding tissue
- Damage to the roots of the tooth in front (resorption)
- A cyst or other disease around the tooth
- The wisdom tooth has broken
- It’s in the way of other treatment, such as jaw surgery
Pericoronitis
A sore gum over a wisdom tooth
When a wisdom tooth is only partly through, a flap of gum can sit over it. Food and bacteria get trapped underneath, and the gum becomes inflamed. This is pericoronitis, and it’s the most common reason wisdom teeth are taken out.
Pain at the backbehind your last tooth
A swollen gumover a part-erupted tooth
A bad tasteor bad breath
A stiff jawhard to open wide
Painful swallowingon one side
Swelling in your facecall us the same day
A first episode
Usually settles with a thorough clean under the gum, warm salt-water mouthwashes and pain relief. Antibiotics are only needed if the infection is spreading or you feel unwell.
If it keeps coming back
A second episode, or one severe infection, is usually a sign the tooth should come out, because the flap of gum will keep trapping food.
Getting seen
Call us as early in the day as you can and we’ll find you an appointment. Out of hours, registered patients can use our emergency line.
Get help urgently if swelling spreads into your face or neck, you have difficulty swallowing or breathing, or you have a high temperature. Call us straight away, or out of hours go to the Emergency Department at the General Hospital.
How it works
Wisdom tooth removal, step by step
01
Assessment
We examine the tooth and take an X-ray. If the roots are close to the nerve in your lower jaw, a 3D CBCT scan, taken here, shows exactly where it runs.
02
Your options in writing
We explain whether to remove the tooth or leave it, the risks for your tooth in particular, and give you a written estimate before you decide.
03
Removal
Under local anaesthetic, so you feel pressure but no pain, with sedation if you’re nervous. A tooth that has come through can take minutes; a buried one takes longer, and we’ll tell you what to expect.
04
Recovery
Most people need a day or two off work. You’ll go home with written aftercare advice, and you can call us if anything worries you.
After your treatment
Recovery and risks
Every wisdom tooth is different. We’ll go through the risks for yours before you decide.
What to expect
- Soreness and swelling for a few days, sometimes with bruising
- Some stiffness when you open your mouth, which settles
- Light bleeding or blood-stained saliva in the first 24 hours
- No rinsing on the day; from the next day, rinse gently with warm salt water after meals
- Soft food, eaten on the other side, and no smoking or alcohol while it heals
Possible complications
- Dry socket: the socket aches a few days later because the blood clot has been lost. It’s more likely if you smoke, and we can treat it, so call us
- Numbness of the lip, chin or tongue: the nerves that give feeling can be bruised during lower wisdom tooth surgery. Up to 1 in 10 people have temporary numbness, and fewer than 1 in 50 have a permanent change
- Infection, which is treated if it happens
Who you’ll see
Dr Sharad Patel
Dr Sharad Patel usually removes wisdom teeth at Confidence. He’s a specialist prosthodontist with over 30 years in dentistry and a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. Meet Sharad and the team.
FAQs
Wisdom teeth: your questions answered
Do all wisdom teeth need to come out?
No. If a wisdom tooth is healthy and isn’t causing problems, it’s usually best left alone and checked at your routine check-ups. NICE guidance advises against removing healthy wisdom teeth just in case.
My wisdom tooth is impacted. Does it have to come out?
Not necessarily. Many impacted wisdom teeth never cause trouble. We recommend removal when one is causing a problem, such as repeated infections of the gum over it, decay that can’t be treated, or damage to the tooth in front.
What is pericoronitis?
Pericoronitis is inflammation of the gum over a wisdom tooth that has only partly come through. Food and bacteria get trapped under the flap of gum, which becomes sore and swollen. A first, mild episode can usually be treated without taking the tooth out; repeated episodes, or one severe one, are a common reason for removal.
Will my wisdom teeth make my front teeth crooked?
Wisdom teeth aren’t thought to cause crowding of the front teeth, so taking them out to prevent crowding isn’t recommended. If your teeth are moving, ask us about retainers or clear aligners.
Does wisdom tooth removal hurt?
You’ll have a local anaesthetic, so you’ll feel pressure but not pain while the tooth is removed. It’s normal to be sore and swollen for a few days afterwards, and we’ll tell you which painkillers to take.
Can I be sedated?
Yes. If you’re nervous, IV sedation is available. You’ll need someone to take you home, and we’ll tell you how long not to drive afterwards.
How long will I need off work?
Most people need a day or two. If you have sedation, plan to take the rest of that day off as well.
Who will take my wisdom tooth out?
Usually Dr Sharad Patel, a specialist prosthodontist with over 30 years in dentistry. If your tooth needs a hospital setting, for example because it sits right against the nerve, we’ll explain your options, including referral to a hospital oral surgery team.
Is wisdom tooth removal covered by the Jersey Dental Fitness Scheme?
No. The scheme covers routine extractions under local anaesthetic, but not the surgical removal of impacted wisdom teeth. If you have dental insurance, you pay on the day and we give you an itemised receipt to claim back.
How much does it cost?
It depends on how the tooth sits, so we price it after your assessment. You’ll have a written estimate before anything is done, and our fees are in our price guide.
Do I need a referral?
No. Book an examination with one of our dentists, or a new patient examination if you haven’t been to us before. If you’re in pain, call us and we’ll see you as soon as we can.
Explore