Surgical Wisdom Tooth Removal

Surgical removal of an impacted or partially erupted wisdom tooth — one that is stuck against the neighbouring tooth or trapped in the bone. Carried out by a dental-surgery specialist under local anaesthetic, often after a cone-beam scan to map the roots and nearby nerve. Wisdom teeth are removed when they cause pain, recurrent infection, decay or crowding. The practice's surgical focus makes it well suited to more complex lower wisdom-tooth cases.

Wisdom teeth — the third molars at the back of each jaw — often lack the room to erupt fully and can become impacted, sitting at an angle against the tooth in front or remaining buried in the bone. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain, repeated gum infections around a partly covered tooth, decay in the wisdom tooth or its neighbour, cyst formation, or pressure that contributes to crowding, and in these situations surgical removal is commonly advised. At the Chlamtacz practice this surgery is performed by Leszek Chlamtacz, a specialist in dental surgery, typically after a cone-beam CT scan that shows the exact position of the roots in relation to the inferior alveolar nerve in the lower jaw or the sinus in the upper jaw — information that helps plan a safer procedure. Under local anaesthetic, the gum is opened, a small amount of bone may be removed and the tooth is often divided into sections so it can be eased out through a smaller opening, after which the site is cleaned and stitched. Some swelling, tenderness and limited mouth opening for several days afterwards are normal and are managed with clear aftercare advice. Lower impacted wisdom teeth are generally the most complex, which is where a surgical specialist is particularly valuable. Suitability, the degree of impaction and any nerve-proximity considerations are assessed from the scan and examination before treatment is recommended.