Impacted Wisdom Teeth: What to do?
Wisdom teeth are the more common name for the third molars, which are the last adult teeth to come in. They are located at the back of the mouth, two on the top and two on the bottom. Sometimes, because of the tricky location of these teeth, they can become impacted and cause trouble and pain.
What are Impacted Wisdom Teeth?
A wisdom tooth is said to be impacted when they don’t have enough space to develop and erupt. Seeing your dentist for a complete evaluation will tell you whether you have impacted wisdom teeth. This usually involves an analysis of your medical history, an examination of your mouth, x-rays and an evaluation of symptoms.
What are the symptoms?
Impacted wisdom teeth sometimes don’t show any symptoms at all. So, at first, they might not be a problem. However, they are much more likely to cause infection or gum disease because of their position which makes them hard to clean. When this happens, the most common symptoms are:
Jaw pain
Swollen and red gums, that can be tender and are also likely to bleed
Swelling around the jaw
Bad breath and bad taste in the mouth
Difficulty opening the mouth
What are the treatment options?
This will depend on your case and the extension of your impacted teeth. Usually, your dentist will need to refer you to an oral surgeon for a more extensive evaluation.
As a general rule, if the impacted teeth are causing problems in the teeth and/or tissues around it, it will need to be surgically removed. If they are not causing any disease or problems, then the approach can be different. In this case, your dentist might just monitor your teeth for gum diseases and decay, and if any issues arise then the surgery will be discussed.
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms it may be wise to book a consultation with Dr Kate Amos or Dr Sam Rosehill at Ethical Dental on 6652 3185 or book online. Catching it sooner will prevent a lot of pain and disease in the future.
To learn more about your wisdom teeth check out our articles What to Expect from My Wisdom Teeth Surgery? and Wisdom Teeth: Blessing or Burden?
