Wisdom tooth surgery Melbourne

There are a number of reasons why you may be referred for the removal of your wisdom teeth. These include pain and infection, decay, damage to neighbouring teeth or gums, and cysts or tumours around the wisdom teeth leading to damage or fracture of the jaws. Wisdom teeth may also be removed at the beginning or completion of orthodontic treatment if recommended by your orthodontist. You do not need a referral to consult with one of our surgeons, but your dentist or orthodontist will usually provide a referral for you.

OralMax Surgeons offer a comprehensive service for removal of wisdom teeth. Our Surgeons are specialists with years of experience in wisdom teeth surgery and understand this can be an overwhelming experience for patients. During your consultation, they will take your individual needs into account when making treatment recommendations. They will also explain the procedure and recovery process.

The procedure may be carried out in our clinic or in a hospital, depending on whether you require local anaesthesia, intravenous sedation or general anaesthesia. This will depend on your specific clinical scenario and will be discussed with you in detail during your consultation to make sure your wishes are respected. If you attend the hospital for surgery, it will be for day surgery and you will be discharged home the same day. You will need to arrange for someone to pick you up from hospital that day. If this is not possible, or you live in a regional area, an overnight stay may be arranged for you upon request. A very small number of patients may require an overnight stay due to other medical conditions.

OralMax Surgeons are able to safely remove all four wisdom teeth on average in approximately 30 minutes for most patients. We recommend you allow some additional time for the anaesthesia and recovery afterwards.

For patients attending a hospital for surgery, the time taken to perform the surgery is usually approximately the same; however, you will spend more time at the hospital due to the hospital admission process and post-operative recovery phase after a general anaesthesia.

On the day of surgery, our surgeons will provide you with a post-operative pack which includes your written instructions, your medical certificate, your next follow-up appointment, the after hours emergency number, additional gauze, a mouthwash and a special syringe for keeping the surgery sites clean. You will also be provided with a prescription for your painkillers, and antibiotics if required.

The time needed to recover from surgery varies from patient to patient but most people undergoing having all four wisdom teeth removed require 5 to 7 days’ convalescence due to swelling and jaw stiffness. Your surgeon will discuss with you the specific recovery needs of your individual procedure.