Wisdom Teeth Pain & Removal
As the last set of adult teeth to come in, it’s not uncommon for newly erupting wisdom teeth to not have enough room to emerge or develop normally.
And this can cause patients a great deal of pain and problems. But how do you know if the pain you’re feeling is typical or if it’s something more serious?
If you suspect something is wrong, it’s always best to book an appointment and have our general dentists take a look.
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As the last set of adult teeth to come in, it’s not uncommon for newly erupting wisdom teeth to not have enough room to emerge or develop normally.
And this can cause patients a great deal of pain and problems. But how do you know if the pain you’re feeling is typical or if it’s something more serious?
If you suspect something is wrong, it’s always best to book an appointment and have our general dentists take a look.
One of the most common dental procedures in the UK is the removal of wisdom teeth or third molars.
Impacted wisdom teeth pain
As wisdom teeth usually grow through the gums during the late teen years or early twenties, much of the adult mouth has formed with all of its teeth in place, so there’s not always room for the newly erupting wisdom teeth to grow correctly.
And because of this lack of space, wisdom teeth can sometimes emerge at an angle, or even get stuck and partially emerge. Wisdom teeth in this state are referred to as impacted wisdom teeth.
Often impacted wisdom teeth do not always come with easy-to-identify symptoms. It’s only when an impacted wisdom tooth becomes infected that patients begin to feel the painful signs and symptoms.
Impacted wisdom teeth symptoms
Identify the symptoms:
- Tener, red, bleeding or swollen gums
- Pain or swelling in the jaw
- Bad breath or an unpleasant taste in your mouth
- Difficulty opening your mouth wide
Infection symptoms:
- Fever and chills
- Jaw or face pain
- Toothache
- Bad taste in mouth/pus in mouth or gums
- Swollen or tender lymph nodes
When to see the dentist
It’s also typical for erupting wisdom teeth that have enough room to cause pain, and usually, this pain does not subside or lessen until they are fully formed. There are at-home treatments that can help manage this pain.
However, suppose you are feeling extremely uncomfortable. In that case, we recommend visiting us for a check-up anyway to ensure that no severe underlying problems are posing a threat to your oral health.
We always advise you to make an appointment with us if you are in severe pain. As with any kind of oral problem, it’s essential to see us as soon as possible rather than wait for your regular check-up appointment.
Wisdom teeth removal
Often, when patients experience pain, discomfort or problems with their wisdom teeth, they are usually removed.
However, this is only determined after examining your mouth to discover the root cause of the problem and if there are other ways of rectifying it.
For example, the biggest issue with impacted wisdom teeth is there is no room for them to erupt, or they’re not breaking through the gums properly.
In the event of these instances, there are treatments we can provide to help them comfortably find room in your mouth and cause you no further issues.
Other problems with wisdom teeth
When you have an impacted wisdom tooth, there is nothing you can do to prevent it from happening.
However, if you have wisdom teeth that have erupted and are giving you problems in your adult life, it might be due to tooth decay or gum disease.
Sometimes partially erupted wisdom teeth, which haven’t fully broken through the gum’s surface, can trap food and bacteria around the edge of the wisdom teeth – this leads to a build-up of plaque in that area.
Oral conditions like gum disease, cellulitis, dental abscesses, or pericoronitis can form and even begin to spread through other areas of the mouth. However, most problems can be resolved and treated with antibiotics, antiseptic mouthwash or periodontal care.
The removal of your wisdom teeth will only be recommended when other treatments have failed to work.
