Wisdom tooth removal

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Wisdom teeth are the last teeth at each end of the upper and lower gums, at the very back of the mouth. The medical name for wisdom teeth is the third molars.

Wisdom teeth usually grow through the gums during your late teens or early twenties. There are normally four wisdom teeth. Often, there is not enough room in the mouth for the wisdom teeth to grow through in a straight line and they will emerge at an angle to fill the available space. Wisdom teeth that grow through in this way are known as â€˜impactedâ€™.

There are different types of impacted wisdom teeth, depending on the way the tooth has grown through. The most common type is mesial impaction, which means teeth that have grown at an angle facing towards the front of the mouth. Other types of impaction are:

vertical (when the tooth grows straight down but gets stuck against the tooth next to it),
horizontal (when the tooth grows horizontally and pushes against the tooth next to it), and,
distal (when the wisdom tooth turns away from the tooth next to it and becomes lodged in that position).

If hospital treatment is required it will be provided free of charge. Dentists charge depending on the treatment required unless you are under 18 or otherwise exempt from NHS charges. Charges, payment methods and any waiting times should be discussed before any treatment begins.