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Wisdom Tooth Surgery

The removal of wisdom teeth is a common procedure to relieve the pain and discomfort from impacted teeth. The wisdom teeth grow at the back corners of the gums – two on the upper jaw, two on the lower – and are normally the last of the 32 adult teeth to emerge and therefore may not have enough space to grow properly.

Wisdom tooth infection causes

They can get stuck or rise at awkward angles and may need to be removed to relieve the pressure on the existing teeth. These wisdom teeth are referred to as impacted.

This normally happens in the late teens or early 20s but can happen at any time of adult life.

Wisdom tooth surgery treatment

A dental X-ray will give a clear indication of the wisdom teeth position and the decision to remove them is made on their influence on adjacent teeth, the risk of infection around teeth that have partially emerged and the pain experienced by the patient.

Wisdom teeth can be removed at the dentist or by a consultant at the hospital and most procedures are conducted with local anaesthesia. A cut may be needed to be made into the gum if the tooth is hidden and the process of freeing the tooth can take anything from a few minutes to half an hour depending on how it is sited.

In some cases, when multiple wisdom teeth are removed or a piece of the jawbone is blocking a tooth then general anaesthesia will be used as the operation is more complex and can involve cutting the obstructive piece of bone.

Patients can normally return home after the surgery and use painkillers to help ease any swelling or bruising which should subside over the next few days. A follow-up appointment may be arranged for a week afterwards at which point any stitches needed are usually removed.

Contact us today

To ask a question about wisdom tooth surgery or to book an appointment with one of our experts you can call us on 020 7078 3845 or email us at [email protected].

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MaxFax Clinic

Our MaxFax Unit provides a bespoke medical service at St John and St Elizabeth Hospital specialising in oral and maxillofacial conditions, offering a range of surgeries and other treatments.

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Patient information

Our Hospital is renowned for providing exemplary levels of care across more than 90 services. From orthopaedics, to urology, our private GP practice and Urgent Care Clinic, our services are led by some of London’s leading Consultants. For more information, and to find a service suitable for your care, find out more about the services that we offer.

Make an enquiry

If you have any questions relating to treatment options or pricing information, get in touch with us by filling out one of our contact boxes or giving us a call on 020 7078 3845.

Our Appointments Team have a dedicated and caring approach to finding you the earliest appointment possible with the best specialist.

If you are self-paying you don’t need a referral from your GP for a consultation. You can simply refer yourself* and book an appointment.

If you have health insurance (e.g. Bupa, Axa Health, Aviva), you will need to contact your insurer to get authorisation before any treatment, and in most cases you will also require a referral letter from your GP.

If you are not registered with a GP, we have an in-house private GP practice you can use. Alternatively, we can suggest the most appropriate course of action for you to take, given your location and individual circumstances.

*Please note – for investigations such as X-rays and MRIs, a referral will be required. However, we may be able to arrange this for you through our on-site private GP.

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