Wisdom Teeth Adelaide
Wisdom Teeth Removal Adelaide: an X-ray first, a clear plan, and sedation options to discuss
Avenue Dental offers wisdom teeth removal in Adelaide at our Fulham Gardens practice on Tapleys Hill Road, in Adelaide’s western suburbs. Your visit begins with an X-ray so we can see exactly where your wisdom teeth are and give you a straight answer on whether they should come out. If removal is recommended, your dentist will explain the sedation options that may suit you, including oral and IV sedation.
In pain today? Phone (08) 7095 2800 before 10am for a same-day appointment. The $95 emergency appointment includes your consult and X-rays.
Wisdom teeth removal in Adelaide
Wisdom teeth (third molars) are the last teeth to arrive, typically somewhere between 17 and 25. When there’s room, they can erupt and work like any other molar. When there isn’t, they can stay trapped under the gum or bone, or lean into the neighbouring tooth, and that’s when gum infection, pain or decay can start. Taking a wisdom tooth out is a surgical procedure, generally done in the dental chair with local anaesthetic, and oral or IV sedation may be available depending on your assessment.
At Avenue Dental in Adelaide, the first step is a check-up and an OPG, a full-mouth X-ray. If the roots look close to the nerve, a 3D scan follows. Your dentist explains what they see, and you take home a written treatment plan and quote before you decide. Swelling tends to be most noticeable in the first few days, though everyone heals at their own pace.
The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute clinical advice. Individual suitability, treatment and costs depend on an assessment specific to you. Before proceeding, seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. View treatment risks here.
Is it your wisdom teeth? What our Adelaide dentists see most
Most Adelaide patients who end up having a wisdom tooth out first came in about something else: a niggle, a swollen gum, food that won’t budge. Choose the one closest to what you’re noticing.
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You said
“My back tooth area aches, sometimes up to my ear”
Pressure from a wisdom tooth trying to erupt, or pressing against the molar beside it, often shows up as a dull or throbbing pain at the very back of the jaw. It can travel towards the ear, temple or throat.
Grinding, a cracked filling or sinus congestion can feel much the same, so we take an X-ray before suggesting anything. If the wisdom tooth is the cause, your dentist will show you on screen and run through your choices, which can include leaving it and checking it again later.
Book at Avenue Dental Fulham Gardens
This information is general in nature and isn’t a substitute for an examination. If swelling spreads to your face, neck or eye, or you have trouble swallowing or breathing, go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
You said
“The gum over my back tooth is puffy and sore”
A partly erupted wisdom tooth often has a hood of gum over it. Food and bacteria get trapped underneath, and the gum can become inflamed and infected. Dentists call this pericoronitis, and it often settles before flaring up again weeks or months later.
At your visit we can clean under the gum and help calm the infection. If flare-ups keep returning, taking the tooth out is commonly how the cycle ends. Ring Fulham Gardens before 10am and we’ll see you that day.
Book at Avenue Dental Fulham Gardens
This information is general in nature and isn’t a substitute for an examination. If swelling spreads to your face, neck or eye, or you have trouble swallowing or breathing, go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
You said
“Food gets trapped behind my last tooth”
When a wisdom tooth sits at an angle or only partly through, it creates a ledge or gap your brush can’t reach. Plaque builds up there, and both the wisdom tooth and the molar beside it can start to decay.
Better cleaning tools and technique are sometimes all that’s needed. If decay has already reached the neighbouring molar, removing the wisdom tooth is often the way to protect the tooth you’d rather keep.
Book at Avenue Dental Fulham Gardens
This information is general in nature and isn’t a substitute for an examination. If swelling spreads to your face, neck or eye, or you have trouble swallowing or breathing, go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
You said
“I can’t open my mouth properly”
An infection around a wisdom tooth can spread into the nearby jaw muscles and make them tight. You might struggle to open wide, chew comfortably or even yawn.
This should be looked at quickly so the infection can be managed before any decision is made about the tooth. If swelling moves into your face, neck or around your eye, or swallowing or breathing becomes difficult, go straight to your nearest hospital emergency department.
Book at Avenue Dental Fulham Gardens
This information is general in nature and isn’t a substitute for an examination. If swelling spreads to your face, neck or eye, or you have trouble swallowing or breathing, go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
You said
“I’ve been told my wisdom tooth is impacted”
An impacted tooth is one that’s blocked from fully erupting. It might be tilted into the neighbouring molar, lying sideways, or still sitting under the gum or in the bone.
Being impacted doesn’t mean it has to come out. Your dentist weighs up its position, whether it’s causing symptoms or harming nearby teeth, and how close it sits to the nerve, then explains the pros and cons of removing it or keeping watch.
Book at Avenue Dental Fulham Gardens
This information is general in nature and isn’t a substitute for an examination. If swelling spreads to your face, neck or eye, or you have trouble swallowing or breathing, go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
You said
“They don’t hurt, but I was told to watch them”
Lots of wisdom teeth cause no trouble at all. If yours are upright, fully through and easy to keep clean, a periodic X-ray to check on them may be all they need.
Some people choose to have them out earlier, while the roots are still forming, as healing is often quicker at a younger age. Your dentist will lay out the options so the decision is yours.
Book at Avenue Dental Fulham Gardens
This information is general in nature and isn’t a substitute for an examination. If swelling spreads to your face, neck or eye, or you have trouble swallowing or breathing, go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
How we decide
Do wisdom teeth always need to be removed?
Not always. We only recommend removal when there’s a clinical reason for it. Wisdom teeth that are upright, fully erupted, easy to keep clean and not affecting their neighbours can often be left in place and checked with the occasional X-ray.
Usually left in place
Fully erupted and upright, easy to brush and floss, symptom-free and not harming the molar beside it.
Often taken out
Infections that keep coming back, decay that can’t be repaired, damage to the neighbouring molar, or a cyst forming around the tooth.
Worth discussing
Impacted teeth that aren’t causing problems yet. The angle, your age and how close the roots sit to the nerve all come into it, and you make the final call.
How we work it out
A check-up and an OPG X-ray, with a 3D scan added when the roots are near the nerve.
Four ways a wisdom tooth can become impacted
How a wisdom tooth is positioned affects the way it’s taken out, how long the appointment runs and how recovery may go. Your X-ray will show which type yours is.
Diagrams are illustrative. In each one, the solid tooth on the left is the second molar and the dashed outline is the wisdom tooth.
gum line
Tilted forward
Leaning into the molar in front (mesioangular). This is the type seen most often, and it tends to trap food against the neighbouring tooth.
gum line
Straight up
Upright (vertical) but blocked from fully erupting. It may come through on its own in time, or stay partly under the gum.
gum line
Sideways
Lying flat (horizontal) and pressing into the roots of the molar in front. It’s usually taken out in pieces.
gum line
Half erupted
Partly visible, with a flap of gum over the rest. This type is more likely to have recurring gum infections (pericoronitis).
From awake to deeply relaxed
Sedation for wisdom teeth removal in Adelaide
Local anaesthetic is used for every removal. Depending on your health history and your dentist’s assessment, oral or IV sedation may also be offered. Your dentist will explain what may suit you at your consultation.
Minimal to moderate sedation
Oral sedation
A sedative tablet prescribed by your dentist and taken before your appointment, used together with local anaesthetic to help ease anxiety. You’ll be given clear instructions on when and how to take it.
What you may notice
Responses differ between people. You may feel drowsy and calm, and you stay conscious and able to respond.
Getting home
You’ll need a responsible adult to bring you in and take you home. Avoid driving, operating machinery or making important decisions until your dentist says it’s safe, which is often 24 hours.
Risks
Oral sedation carries risks, which your dentist will go through with you at your consultation. Read more about treatment risks.
Moderate sedation
IV sedation
Sedative medication delivered through a small cannula in your hand or arm, used together with local anaesthetic. Your breathing, heart rate and oxygen levels are monitored for the whole procedure. The aim is to help you feel deeply relaxed while the tooth is removed.
What you may notice
Responses differ between people. You may remember little of the procedure. You aren’t unconscious and can usually respond.
Getting home
A responsible adult must take you home and stay with you afterwards. Don’t drive or make important decisions for at least 24 hours, or for as long as your dentist advises.
Risks
IV sedation carries risks, which your dentist will go through with you at your consultation. Read more about treatment risks.
Sedation is not suitable for everyone. General anaesthetic isn’t currently offered at our Adelaide practice; if it may be suitable for you, your dentist can discuss your options. Effects, recovery and how much you remember vary between individuals. Your dentist will assess your suitability and explain the risks relevant to you before you consent. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Wisdom teeth removal recovery: your first fortnight
Healing is different for everyone, and your dentist will give you aftercare instructions specific to you. Here’s a general guide to the first two weeks.
Day by day
Let the clot form
Bite gently on gauze as directed, use a cold pack on and off, and rest with your head propped up. Skip rinsing, spitting, straws, smoking and hot drinks so a clot can settle in the socket.
Swelling is often at its peak
This is commonly when puffiness and a stiff jaw are most noticeable. Warm salt-water rinses usually start around now, following your dentist’s instructions.
Easing back into routine
Swelling starts to go down and many people head back to work or study. If pain is getting worse instead of better, it could be dry socket. Call us and we’ll book you in.
Healing continues
Swelling has mostly settled. Dissolving stitches come away by themselves, and the gum keeps closing over the socket in the weeks ahead. A review appointment confirms everything is healing as expected.
Tap a day to see what to expect.
Illustrative only. Swelling, comfort and healing vary from person to person.
An Adelaide note
Give the gym, parkrun and a swim at Henley or Grange a few days off while the sockets settle. Hard exercise and salt water can disturb the clot, and your dentist will tell you when you’re clear to get back into it.
Why choose Avenue Dental for wisdom teeth removal in Adelaide
An X-ray before any decision
Every patient has an OPG X-ray, with a 3D scan added when roots are near the nerve, so your plan reflects what’s really going on.
Sedation options
Oral and IV sedation are available at Fulham Gardens, depending on your assessment. Your dentist will talk you through what may suit you.
Same-day appointments for pain
Phone before 10am and we’ll fit you in that day. The $95 emergency appointment includes your consult and X-rays.
Western suburbs, one practice
Fulham Gardens on Tapleys Hill Road, close to Henley Beach, Grange and West Lakes. Your assessment, removal and review all happen at the one practice.
Locally owned and operated
Our Fulham Gardens practice is led by a managing partner who is in every day, with a local team. Avenue Dental has been caring for patients since 1990.
Upfront quotes and payment plans
You’ll have a written quote with item numbers before booking, plus the option of Humm interest-free payment plans, with approval and terms assessed by Humm.
Wisdom teeth removal in Adelaide: your questions answered
How much does wisdom teeth removal cost in Adelaide?
Where can I have my wisdom teeth removed in Adelaide?
What are the opening hours at Avenue Dental Fulham Gardens?
Should I get my wisdom teeth out even if they don’t hurt?
What sedation is available for wisdom teeth removal in Adelaide?
Do I need to go to hospital to have my wisdom teeth out?
How long is the appointment?
How long does it take to recover from wisdom teeth removal?
Can all four wisdom teeth come out in one appointment?
What are the risks of wisdom teeth removal?
Will my health fund cover wisdom teeth removal?
What is dry socket and how do I avoid it?
Can I get a same-day appointment for wisdom tooth pain in Adelaide?
Do I need a referral to have my wisdom teeth removed?
Flexible payment plans
At Avenue Dental on the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne, we understand that dental treatment can be difficult to fit into your budget, which is why we offer a range of different dental payment plan options.
