Most people have enough room in their mouth to accommodate 4 wisdom teeth, however in some cases they can cause discomfort when they come through.  This is usually only temporary and will disappear one the tooth is fully in position.

For certain people, there is only enough space in the mouth to accommodate 28 teeth so problems arise when the extra 4 wisdom teeth try to erupt.  If there is not enough room, the wisdom tooth will get stuck against the tooth in front of it.  This will leave the wisdom tooth at an angle – and is what we describe as “impacted”.

If part of the wisdom tooth has appeared through the gum while the other part is still covered, the gum may become sore and perhaps swollen.  This is because food particles and bacteria can collect under the gum edge, which is an area difficult to clean effectively.

By taking an X-ray, your dentist will be able to see whether there is enough room for the tooth to come through into a useful position.  If there is then they will advise you how to deal with any temporary problems by using mouthwashes, special cleaning methods and sometimes antibiotics.

It may not always be possible for your dentist to extract your wisdom tooth within the surgery environment, in many cases you will need to be referred to an oral surgeon at either your local hospital or clinic.  This can be done through your own private medical insurance or via the National Health Service.