Are you struggling with wisdom teeth coming through? Or have you been battling a wisdom teeth infection that you can’t quite shift? Here at Vera Smile, we understand how irritating wisdom teeth can be, and for our patients who opt for cosmetic dentistry, it’s important to understand how wisdom teeth can affect the shape of the mouth. In this guide, we’ll be answering some of the most common questions we get from our patients such as “What are wisdom teeth?” and “How much does wisdom teeth removal cost?” amongst many others. Read on to find out more.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that an adult mouth will grow. These are located right at the back of the mouth. In some cases, wisdom teeth can become partially or fully impacted in the mouth meaning they can be trapped in your gums or jawbone. This is where wisdom teeth can become particularly painful and can even result in an infection. Impacted wisdom teeth can even lead to gum disease or cavities over time as well and in the past, many people would have their wisdom teeth removed as a result.
According to scientists, wisdom teeth exist because our ancestors, in our caveman days, would require additional molars to help them to eat their food. This is because the meat was typically eaten raw. Wisdom teeth provided us with a wider jaw and more chewing power to consume the food we needed to survive.
When Do Wisdom Teeth Come In?
Wisdom teeth will typically come in between the ages of 17 and 25 (although there are many adults who experience these much later). Not every adult will experience wisdom teeth and some research has shown that 53% of adults have at least one wisdom tooth.
Wisdom Teeth Symptoms & Signs
Some of the first signs of wisdom teeth coming through can be tenderness, or red or swollen gums at the back of the mouth. You may even experience difficulty opening your mouth or swelling around the jaw accompanied by tenderness or even pain as some of the first signs of wisdom teeth coming through. In fact, you may experience some facial pain due to the teeth putting pressure on the nerves in the face.
Wisdom teeth symptoms can progress further from there too. You may experience:
- Bleeding gums
- Jaw pain
- Bad breath
- A metallic-like or unpleasant taste in your mouth
- White flecks behind the last molars in your mouth
With wisdom teeth coming through, you may experience impaction and therefore infection. The signs of infection are when you experience similar symptoms to the wisdom teeth coming through, but these symptoms are located behind the last molar in your mouth. Wisdom teeth infection could develop further and cause gum disease or even cysts in the mouth if left untreated.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
For some who are experiencing impacted wisdom teeth, they may seek to have the teeth extracted. This was a common treatment for people who were in high amounts of pain or who were facing extra wisdom teeth symptoms such as infection. Wisdom teeth extraction is generally done under sedation and doesn’t require a full general anesthetic, however, if the infection is bad then a hospital trip may be needed. It will typically take up to one week to recover from a wisdom tooth extraction and some post-recovery treatment may be needed to keep your mouth healthy after the surgery. For others who are not experiencing symptoms that are too bad, then simple over-the-counter painkillers or soothing gels may suffice in treating any discomfort caused by the wisdom teeth.
But how much does having a wisdom teeth removed cost? This is entirely dependent on where you are located and if your medical coverage also covers dental costs. In the UK, wisdom teeth removal generally costs around £150-£300 when removed privately, although upper teeth or complex cases may cost slightly more. In the US, this equates to around $225-$600 although this is only when local anaesthesia is used.
Here at Vera Smile, while we aren’t able to offer wisdom teeth extraction, however, we can help to get you the perfect smile either before or after you’ve had yours removed. We offer a wide range of cosmetic dentistry in Turkey including a Hollywood Smile, gum reduction, and even dental implants to get your smile back. Simply fill out our contact form and get in touch to discuss your requirements today.