Wisdom teeth are the last molars to erupt, usually between the ages of 17 and 25. For many people they arrive without incident. For many others there simply is not enough room, and the tooth becomes impacted — stuck against bone or the neighbouring molar.
Symptoms of a problem wisdom tooth
Typical signs are a dull ache or pressure at the very back of the jaw, tenderness and swelling in the gum flap over a partly erupted tooth, difficulty opening the mouth fully, a bad taste or discharge, sore glands under the jaw, and pain radiating to the ear or temple on the same side.
Pericoronitis: the most common cause
When a wisdom tooth is only partly through, a flap of gum overlies it and traps food and bacteria. The resulting infection — pericoronitis — causes throbbing pain and swelling and often recurs. Warm salty rinses and careful cleaning may settle a mild episode, but repeated episodes mean the tooth should be assessed for removal.
Does every wisdom tooth need removing?
No. A wisdom tooth that is fully erupted, functional, cleanable and pain-free can be kept and monitored. Removal is usually recommended for recurrent infection, decay in the wisdom tooth or the molar in front of it, gum disease around it, cysts on an X-ray, or damage to the adjacent tooth. The decision should always be based on an X-ray, not on symptoms alone.
How assessment works
We take a panoramic X-ray to see the tooth's root shape, its angle, its relationship to the inferior dental nerve in the lower jaw and to the sinus in the upper jaw. That image determines whether the extraction is straightforward or surgical, and how long it will take.
What surgical extraction involves
The area is fully numbed with local anaesthetic — you feel pressure, not pain. A small incision is made in the gum, a little bone may be removed, and the tooth is often sectioned into pieces so it can be delivered through a smaller opening. The socket is cleaned and stitches are placed, usually dissolvable. Most procedures take 20 to 45 minutes.
Recovery day by day
Swelling peaks at 48–72 hours and then subsides. Use cold compresses for the first 24 hours, then warm ones. Eat soft, cool food, keep hydrated, and take painkillers as advised before the anaesthetic wears off. Do not smoke, do not use a straw and do not rinse vigorously for 24 hours — these dislodge the clot and cause a painful dry socket. Most people return to work within two to three days.
When to call us after surgery
Contact the clinic for bleeding that will not stop with 20 minutes of firm gauze pressure, worsening pain from day three onwards, swelling that grows after day three, fever, or difficulty swallowing or breathing.
Wisdom tooth removal in Mombasa
Ocean Smile Dental Clinic provides on-site imaging and surgical extraction of wisdom teeth on Moi Avenue, Mombasa. Book an assessment on WhatsApp 0713 276 793, or call our emergency line 0739 452 765 if you are in acute pain.
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