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Looking for a caring and professional dental practice? We’re excited to welcome new patients to our clinic! Whether you’re due for a check-up, need treatment, or are looking to enhance your smile, our friendly team is here to help.
Contact us today to book your first appointment—we look forward to meeting you!

Wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth are molars which are the last adult teeth to develop in the mouth. Most people have four wisdom teeth at the back of the mouth — 1 in each corner.

They usually start to appear in gums in late teens, early twenties, but it can also be quite common to appear later. By this time, there are already 28 adult teeth in the mouth and so the development of wisdom teeth can often be impacted by restricted space, causing problems as they grow. Wisdom teeth can sometimes emerge at an angle or get stuck and only partially emerge. Teeth that grow through like this are known as impacted.

When to see a Titchfield Dental Health dentist

Impacted wisdom teeth don't always cause symptoms. However, when an impacted wisdom tooth becomes infected, damages other teeth or causes other dental problems, you may experience some of these signs or symptoms:

Red or swollen gums
Tender or bleeding gums
Jaw pain
Swelling around the jaw
Bad breath
An unpleasant taste in your mouth
Difficulty opening your mouth

As with any teeth problems, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms it's important to book an appointment at Titchfield Dental Health to see a dentist as soon as possible, rather than waiting for routine dental health review.

What can I do to help relieve the discomfort of wisdom teeth?

A mouthwash of medium-hot water with a teaspoonful of salt will help to reduce gum soreness and inflammation. Swish the salt water around the tooth, trying to get into the areas your toothbrush cannot reach. Do this several times a day.

An antibacterial mouthwash containing chlorhexidine can also reduce the inflammation. Pain-relieving tablets such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can also be useful in the short term, but talk to us at Titchfield Dental Health if the pain continues.

Why are wisdom teeth removed?

If your wisdom teeth are impacted but not causing any problems, you don't usually need to be remove them. This is because there's no proven benefit of doing this and it carries the risk of complications.

Sometimes, wisdom teeth that have become impacted or haven't fully broken through the surface of the gum can cause dental problems. Food and bacteria can get trapped around the edge of the wisdom teeth, causing a build-up of plaque, which can lead to several problems in the mouth:

  • Damage to other teeth. If the wisdom tooth pushes against the second molar, it may damage the second molar or increase the risk of infection in that area. This pressure can also cause problems with crowding of the other teeth or require orthodontic treatment to straighten other teeth.
  • Cysts. The wisdom tooth develops in a sac within the jawbone. The sac can fill with fluid, forming a cyst that can damage the jawbone, teeth and nerves.
  • Decay. Partially impacted wisdom teeth appear to be at higher risk of tooth decay than other teeth. This probably occurs because wisdom teeth are harder to clean and because food and bacteria get easily trapped between the gum and a partially erupted tooth.
  • Gum disease. The difficulty cleaning impacted, partially erupted wisdom teeth increases the risk of developing a painful, inflammatory gum disease in that area.

Many of these problems can be treated with antibiotics, antiseptic mouthwash and a good oral hygiene regime.

Wisdom teeth removal is very common, but usually only recommended when other treatments haven't worked.

How are wisdom teeth removed?

If your Titchfield Dental Health dentist recommends removing your wisdom teeth, they'll take an X-ray of your mouth to help them determine who should carry out the procedure. Your dentist may remove your wisdom teeth, or they may refer you to a specialist surgeon for hospital treatment.

Before the operation, we’ll fully explain the procedure to you.

A local anaesthetic injection is usually given to numb the area around the tooth. You'll feel some pressure just before the tooth is removed, as your dentist or oral surgeon needs to widen the tooth socket by rocking the tooth back and forth.

A small cut in the gum is sometimes necessary, and the tooth may need to be cut into smaller pieces before it's removed.

It takes anything from a few minutes to 20 minutes, or sometimes even longer, to remove a wisdom tooth.

After your wisdom teeth have been removed, you may have swelling and discomfort, both inside and outside your mouth. Occasionally, some mild bruising is also visible. This is usually improves after 3 days, but it can take up to 2 weeks. If this continues for longer, or progresses, please get in touch with the team at Titchfield Dental Health as soon as possible.

Prevention

You can't keep an impaction from occurring but keeping your regular dental appointments for cleaning and reviews enables your dentist to monitor the growth and emergence of your wisdom teeth. Regularly updated dental X-rays may indicate impacted wisdom teeth before any symptoms develop.

If you have any concerns about your wisdom teeth, or are experiencing any pain, give us a call on 01489 581158.

Patient Reviews

People are talking about us

The biggest complement we receive is when our patients refer their friends and family to Titchfield Dental Health. In fact, we have built much of our practice on these valued, trusted recommendations over the years. Read our reviews to hear why our patients are recommending us…

Patient reviews

826 Reviews

5.0

29th August 2025

The whole team, from the reception staff to the dental nurse, dentist and hygienist where friendly and welcoming. Each one in turn explained in detail what procedures they were going to be doing using language which I could understand and relate to. As soon as you walk into the practice there is a very calm atmosphere and it is carried throughout by all the staff that I have had the pleasure of meeting.

AA

AlanHandley Alan

My experience so far with attending Titchfield Dental Health is one of complete satisfaction. All of the staff are friendly, nice and caring and highly professional, in my experience. Also, there is never any pressure felt to take any particular treatment, as they seem to care most about you receiving the right treatment where needed and only if recommending a treatment is necessary for your wellbeing or in the case of cosmetic reasons there is also never any pressure, just advice and options. My thanks to Rick Norton today for sorting an ongoing traumatised tooth of mine. I wasn't expecting it to be that easy but I am now pain free. Thank you Rick.

AW

Amanda Wright

A brilliant dentists, from the friendly reception staff who make you feel like an old friend, to the fantastic dental nurses and finally the super dentists. Have had 3 dental implants and they all went really well, no issues at all, in fact was traipsing round London two days after the last one with no bother at all. Great place and have been a patient there for more years than I now care to remember…

26th August 2025

Professional, pleasant and I feel quite happy there.

LO

Lorraine Oade

This is by far the best dental practice I have been to. As someone who has always had a fear of the dentist, I am always made to feel welcome and safe. Anya takes extra care to make me feel comfortable and relaxed. I have recently had braces and the results are amazing, I am super happy with everything. Anya and Jenny have made the whole experience a positive one for me. And Ruth has taken extra care and time to make me feel more comfortable when I’m in my hygienist appointment. Thank you so much to the whole team for continuing to make my visits to the practice positive ones

21st August 2025

Ruth is so lovely. She always makes me feel comfortable. She's super friendly and chatty and I always come away from my appointment with her satisfied

21st August 2025

Staff very polite and understanding.,service was excellent

20th August 2025

First time meeting Anya. Really very professional - explained everything clearly and made sure I knew what was happening all the way through the procedure, with clear commentary. Also really very sympathetic to the fact that I am a nervous patient and went to great efforts to keep me informed and calm.A great effort also made to make sure that I got a good outcome, with so much care place on checking and testing to see if all was ok - really very patient and helpful. Very satisfied with the results as well.

16th August 2025

Very understanding of nervous patients. Very kind and always gave explanations. Able to have a break in treatment if needed.

15th August 2025

Professional , courteous, made me feel valued and less anxious.

15th August 2025

Always listened to and reassured with any treatment that is needed. Very understanding with nervous patients

14th August 2025

Welcomg warm friendly, took time to explain what treatment I needed and why. They also gave guidance of what to do to prevent problems in the future. Very helpful. I have only joined this practice this year and have already recommended to other friends and family.

14th August 2025

I am a nervous patient and the team are absolutely amazing and put me at ease,I would never go anywhere else

AS

Anya Sieinska

I just had my routine hygiene appt with Ruth and I am over the moon. I am a wuss when it comes to dentists and hygienists as my teeth are very sensitive and I have a low pain threshold. Ruth is using this new machine at the practice, which is called Air Flow and it allows for a completely pain and sensitivity free treatment. I also ask for Oraquix; it's a numbing gel which is placed on the surface of my teeth and gums and makes this experience the best I ever had. Thank you Ruth

12th August 2025

Lovely practice and the team are exceptionally knowledgeable.Reception greet you in a very friendly and professional manner and the nurses and Anya were very skilled and professional.

11th August 2025

Rick and Ruth are amazing. I have finally found a great team. Reception team are also very lovely and welcoming

9th August 2025

Made to feel at ease from arriving and having the treatment finished.

SL

Sara luce

I am not a fan of the dentist but here they made me feel so looked after, even when I started to panic they took the time to calm me down, and didn’t move on till I was comfortable. They talked me through what they were doing and kept checking I was comfortable. One of the best dental experiences I’ve had.

8th August 2025

The staff are all friendly and welcoming. No waiting time and easy to make next appointments

JT

Jenny Thomas

I’ve been a patient at Titchfield Dental for over 18 years and have found everyone there welcoming, professional and kind. As a person who has always suffered badly with anxiety they have helped me tremendously by understanding how I am and always taking the time to carefully explain any treatment needed. To the reception ladies, my dentist Anya, nurses Anne, Jenny and any other nurses that I’ve seen over time, my hygienist Ruth, my thanks to you all for your friendliness and kindness which means so much to an anxious patient.

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