Your trusted oral surgery specialist on St Kilda Road
If you have impacted or problematic wisdom teeth, our skilled team can guide you through wisdom teeth extraction, ensuring a safe and comfortable procedure.
Dr Shady Abdelsalam - oral surgeon
Dr Shady Abdelsalam is a qualified and registered Oral Surgery Specialist. He completed his Bachelor of Dental Medicine & Surgery in 2007, obtained Membership to the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2012, and earned his Master's degree in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery in 2016.
Common problems caused by wisdom teeth
- Infection and gum disease - partially erupted wisdom teeth create pockets that are tricky to clean, becoming breeding grounds for bacteria.
- Decay on the adjacent tooth - angulated, partially erupted wisdom teeth trap food against the neighbouring molar, often causing decay too close to the dental nerve to restore.
- Impaction - without enough space to emerge properly, wisdom teeth become trapped beneath the gumline, causing pain, swelling and infection.
- Crowding - emerging molars can push against existing teeth, leading to misalignment.
- Cysts and tumours - in rare cases, wisdom teeth develop growths that damage neighbouring teeth and bone.
When is removal recommended?
Removal is often advised if a wisdom tooth has only partially erupted; you experience pain, swelling or inflammation; food becomes trapped around the tooth; the neighbouring tooth is being affected; there is recurring infection; crowding is impacting alignment; or decay develops due to impaction. A comprehensive consultation and X-ray is the best way to determine whether extraction is required.
Frequently asked questions
What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth - third molars - are the final set of molars that typically emerge during the late teens or early twenties. Due to their late arrival they often face limited space in the jaw, leading to impaction or improper alignment.
What does the extraction procedure involve?
The first step is a comprehensive check-up and dental X-ray, which lets your dentist assess the position of the tooth, determine if there is enough room, and predict whether the extraction will be straightforward or complex. Not all wisdom teeth need removal - our team offers personalised assessments to guide treatment decisions.
Need to know more? Book a FREE wisdom teeth consultation.