During our late teenage years, our wisdom teeth begin to emerge. However, these teeth rarely arrive without causing issues, and often, patients experience what’s known as impacted wisdom teeth. Continue reading to learn more about this issue and a few of the signs you should look for, so that you know when to quickly call your dentist for assistance!
What Does It Mean When a Wisdom Tooth Is Impacted?
Technically speaking, any tooth can become impacted – but this issue usually affects the wisdom teeth, or third molars, since most people don’t have enough room for them inside their mouths.
An impacted wisdom tooth occurs when the skin, soft tissue, or bone in the jaw covers most of the physical tooth. The tooth can slightly come through the gums, though it’s not unusual for it to pop up one day and then submerge the very next day.
The movement of an impacted wisdom tooth often leaves room for air to enter the pocket – and if air can get in, so can harmful bacteria, which can trigger painful infections.
What Are the Symptoms of Impacted Wisdom Teeth?
Impacted wisdom teeth do not always trigger symptoms, but when they do, they can be painful and/or concerning. A few common signs to look for include:
- Jaw pain – While several dental issues may cause jaw pain, an impacted wisdom tooth can lead to pain felt throughout the whole jaw and skull, resulting in terrible headaches as well as pain when chewing. The jaw might also swell as a result of this pain, which often indicates a serious infection is present.
- Sore or bleeding gums – Just like how the teeth and jaw can be affected, the gum tissue can also become swollen or bleeding because of impacted wisdom teeth.
- Bad tastes and smells – When wisdom teeth are impacted, bacteria often become trapped in the soft folds of the teeth and gums. These bacteria will rapidly multiply, possibly triggering infections that worsen and lead to cysts and decay. This also causes a noticeable foul taste in the mouth and bad breath that may be noticed by others.
How Can My Dentist Help?
Most experts agree that wisdom teeth should be evaluated and often removed in young adults, in order to prevent the possibility of them becoming impacted and triggering serious dental issues.
That said, patients with impacted wisdom teeth normally must undergo tooth extraction to prevent things from worsening. As with any other type of tooth extraction, your mouth will be fully numbed, and you’ll have to endure a brief recovery period following the procedure. However, wisdom teeth don’t need to be replaced, as is the case with other teeth.
If you’re experiencing dental pain and you believe it’s related to your wisdom teeth, don’t delay in speaking with your dentist and having them evaluate your mouth – pain isn’t something you should have to endure, especially if it’ll only snowball into further unpleasant issues!
About the Practice
The team here at Elite Oral Surgery Associates has proudly served patients in Worcester and the surrounding communities for several years, offering a wide range of services including wisdom tooth removal. If you have any questions about the blog or our services, or you’d like to get in touch with us to set up an appointment, please feel free to reach out online or over the phone for assistance. Telephone: (774) 220-7355.
