When wisdom teeth become impacted, they become stuck behind the gums or bone, causing significant pain which is one of the first impacted wisdom teeth symptoms you will have.
Wisdom teeth that become stuck are prone to deteriorate and can potentially cause damage to neighboring teeth. As a result, wisdom teeth that have become impacted must be extracted.
The discomfort caused by impacted wisdom teeth is generally enough to alert you that something is amiss. Knowing the signs of this prevalent oral health problem, on the other hand, might help you pinpoint the source of the discomfort early on.
Some people’s symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth aren’t evident, while others have prominent signs. This is why it is critical to have a dental checkup regularly.
But first, you need to be aware of the warning symptoms of a problematic wisdom tooth so that you can recognise the problem as soon as possible.
What is an Impacted Wisdom Tooth?
Your wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the teeth at the back of your mouth. Most adults have 32 teeth, with four wisdom teeth in each corner of the mouth. Wisdom teeth are the last adult teeth to grow, if at all.
They usually mature (erupt) in late adolescence or early adulthood, and they might pose problems since there is little room in the mouth for them to come in correctly.
Teeth may come through at an angle or only partially through the gum due to a lack of space; this is known as impacted wisdom teeth, and these are the wisdom teeth that most typically need to be extracted.
The impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain, damage to other teeth, and other dental issues, such as overcrowding of existing teeth and impaction, either into neighboring teeth or the gum. However, not all wisdom teeth create difficulties right away, and even if they are impacted, they may not be painful.
What Problems Can Impacted Wisdom Teeth Cause?
Impacted wisdom teeth can cause several problems in the mouth:
Damage to other teeth
If the wisdom teeth push on the second molar, the second molar may be damaged, or the area may get infected. This pressure might also result in crowding of other teeth, necessitating orthodontic treatment to realign them.
Cysts
In the jawbone, the wisdom tooth develops in a sac. A cyst can form when the sac fills with fluid, causing damage to the jawbone, teeth, and nerves. Rarely, a tumor develops, which is typically noncancerous (benign). This condition may necessitate tissue and bone removal.
Decay
The partially impacted wisdom teeth appear to have a higher risk of tooth decay (caries) than regular teeth. This is most likely due to the difficulty of cleaning wisdom teeth and how easily food and bacteria can become caught between the gum and a partially erupted tooth.
Gum disease
The difficulty of cleaning impacted, partially erupted wisdom teeth raises the chance of getting pericoronitis, a painful, inflammatory gum disease.
Signs And Symptoms Of Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth that are impacted do not always produce symptoms. You may encounter some of the following indications or symptoms if an impacted wisdom tooth becomes infected, destroys other teeth, or causes other dental problems:
- Red or swollen gums
- Tender or bleeding gums
- Jaw pain
- Swelling around the jaw
- Bad breath
- An unpleasant taste in your mouth
- Difficulty opening your mouth
Do I Need My Wisdom Teeth Removed?
Is it necessary to remove wisdom teeth?
If your wisdom teeth are impacted andare preventing good dental hygiene, it’s usually best to have them removed.
Teeth that erupt in a functional and upright position don’t always need to be extracted if they don’t cause pain or aren’t linked to decay or gum disease.
However, because wisdom teeth are so far back in the mouth and difficult to clean, even those that come in properly can develop problems over time. If you want to keep your wisdom teeth, brush and floss them thoroughly and see your dentist regularly.
When Is Removal Needed?
If wisdom teeth are causing problems or x-rays show they can be lost, they need to come out. Other good reasons to remove them are:
Damage to other teeth
These extra molars can press on the other teeth, causing mouth pain and bite problems.
Jaw damage
Cysts can form around new teeth. If left untreated, they can hollow out the jaw and damage nerves.
Sinus Problems
Wisdom tooth problems can lead to sinus pain, pressure, and constipation.
Inflamed gums
The tissues around the area can be swollen and difficult to clean.
Tooth decay
Inflamed gums can create pockets between the teeth that encourage bacteria to grow and the formation of tooth decay.
Alignment
Impacted wisdom teeth can cause problems with crowding other teeth and even make treatment to straighten other teeth necessary.
To make a selection, your dentist will examine the shape of your mouth and the position of your teeth. Your age is also a factor.
Still haven’t given up your molars? You might enquire about what your dentist sees with your teeth. You can often wait a few months to observe whether things change before making a choice.
However, if you are experiencing discomfort, swelling, or a foul odour near your back teeth, it may be time to seek medical attention.
Why Choose Us for Your Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Depending on the tooth’s location in the jaw, there are different degrees of impacted wisdom teeth. Soft tissue inoculation occurs when the tooth’s crown has penetrated the bone, but the gums still cover part of the tooth. When the tooth has partially appeared, part of the tooth remains sunk in the jaw, partial bone deposition. Complete bone impact occurs when the jaw completely covers the tooth.
An impacted wisdom tooth doesn’t always show symptoms, which means you may have impacted teeth, and you don’t even know it. When symptoms occur, it is usually the result of infection or swelling of the gums on the tooth. Symptoms can include pain, swollen and bleeding gums with swelling around the jaw, bad breath, headache or jaw pain, and an unpleasant taste when eating. Some people have a stiff jaw or swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
See your dentist if you experience these compromised wisdom tooth symptoms. Untreated, impacted wisdom teeth can lead to gum and dental problems. Damage to the other teeth can also occur, including infection and crowding of the teeth. In rare cases, impacted wisdom teeth can cause cysts and tumors.
If you experience any of these signs and symptoms, it may be associated with an impacted wisdom tooth, and you should see your dentist. They will examine the area and, if necessary, X-ray to see where the wisdom teeth are and if they are affected. If wisdom teeth are bothersome, they may need to be removed.
At Gisborne Family Dental, we offer an effective wisdom tooth extraction service. If they do not need to be removed, we will tell you. But if they do, our exceptional and caring team of experienced dentists from Gisborne Family will make wisdom tooth extraction as painless as possible.
If you are having troubles with your wisdom teeth, call us on (03) 8595 1888 or book online to make an appointment.