The term ‘wisdom teeth’ was coined as the last of the human teeth, the 4 molars that grow at the back of mouth, grow between the ages of 17 – 25 which is also known as “The Age of Wisdom”. Although they grow, many anthropologists now believe that they once served a function, when our early ancestors survived on food they foraged from the natural environment such nuts, roots, seeds and also meat.

Fast forward thousands of years later, modern cooking including food preparation in which food can now be consumed in bite size pieces, meant that the human jaw and mouth has also evolved. Early man may have required all of the teeth to gnaw through the tough foods they found fossicking in nature, however in this day and age, we do not. As such, with the human mouth and jaw evolving to become smaller in shape and size, the less room there is for the entire set of human teeth. This is why when wisdom teeth grow; there is very rarely any space for them in which to develop. They grow sideways and sometimes not breaking through the gum at all and as such become impacted.

When they become impacted they often cause mild to serious wisdom teeth pain and may affect other surrounding teeth. Complications can include:

·         Bacterial infection

·         Tooth decay

·         Cysts

·         Gum disease

·         Sore gums

·         Swollen gums

·         Teeth crowding

In most cases, the only way to overcome impacted wisdom teeth is to have them extracted so they no longer cause any pain and irritation. 

Whilst waiting for wisdom teeth removal, there are a few simple things you can do to ease wisdom teeth pain. These can include:

·         Taking pain relief medication

·          Using oral gels and ointments to numb wisdom teeth and gums

·         Rinsing mouth with salty water

·         Avoiding extreme temperatures such as hot or cold water or food

·         Staying away from alcohol and cigarettes

·         Eating soft foods that are easy to chew

These are only temporary measures and do not provide a long term solution to wisdom teeth pain. You will need to consult a qualified and experienced oral surgeon as each situation is different.

So if you want to deal with your wisdom teeth pain once and for all, contact The Wisdom Teeth Professionals on 1800 WIS DOM who have an oral surgeon in Sydney and Melbourne who can provide you with advice on wisdom teeth removal costs and treatments.

In Australia, statistics show that on average 64% of people aged 5 years and over receive oral health and dental care. This means that of the developed world, Australians are more likely to seek advice from a dental or oral surgeon for issues such as tooth decay, wisdom teeth removal and dental appearance.

Although we have some of the highest rates of dental care in the world, many Australians still avoid having to go and see a dental surgeon because they are afraid. They are afraid of the torture they will face when they sit in the chair. They are afraid of the aftermath of getting their mouth seen by a dental specialist, such as the swollen jaw, aching gums, pain and distorted face. More often than not, it is not the physical pain they are afraid of. Increasingly, more Australians are forgoing a visit to the dental office because of the financial costs. With only half of the Australian population with some form of private dental insurance, there is still an alarmingly large number of Australians that aren’t regularly seeking dental care.

At a time where it seems that the cost of living is increasing to the point that many families are struggling with keeping up with the bare essentials, the reality is, dental care is still seen as a luxury and not a necessity. The truth is, however, dental care is not as cost prohibitive as one would think.

There are many dental service providers that offer cost-effective solutions. If you call around to different dental offices, you should be able to obtain these costs easily enough, from initial consultation costs through to basic services such as wisdom teeth extraction. You can also ask family and friends for recommendations on cheap dental providers as they may be able to direct you to a suitable one.

In addition, if you don’t already have private health care insurance, this may be an option that you may want to consider given that many of private health insurers also provide cover for dental procedures and treatments so that you pay less than what you normally would without cover. There are also private health insurance companies who also provide select dental cover options just for dental consultations, fillings and other dental treatment which can cost as little $2.95 per week and covers 60% of the total dental costs.

So if you’re looking for an affordable oral surgeon in Sydney or cost effective wisdom teeth extraction in Sydney, contact the experienced team at The Wisdom Teeth Professionals on 1800 WIS DOM and book yourself in for a consultation that won’t break the bank!