Wisdom Tooth Pain: When Should You See a Dentist in Warwick?
Your wisdom teeth are the last set of molars at the back of your mouth. They usually emerge last, often between the ages of 17 and 25, but it can be later. They are prone to issues, particularly when there isn’t enough space for them to emerge correctly.
When a wisdom tooth cannot emerge correctly, it is referred to as impacted. It might emerge at any angle, facing into the rear molars, or it might not fully emerge from the gum line, leading to a pocket above the tooth that provides space for bacteria to thrive.
If you have issues with your wisdom teeth, it’s best not to ignore this. At the first sign of pain or discomfort, we recommend visiting our dentist in Warwick to help you find relief from this condition.
In this guide, we’ll explain the common signs that something is wrong with your wisdom teeth, what treatment you can expect, and when this has progressed to an emergency situation.
Problems with your wisdom teeth
For many people, wisdom teeth will emerge without issue and they might not even notice the extra additions to their mouth. However, for some people, wisdom teeth can cause lots of problems if there isn’t enough space for the teeth to emerge.
Impacted wisdom teeth are painful and can lead to life-threatening infections if they are left untreated. This is why it’s important to pay close attention to any pain or changes to your oral health.
Common signs of wisdom teeth problems include:
Red, swollen or bleeding gums around the tooth
Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
Swelling of the face or jaw
Swollen lymph nodes in your neck and a fever
Pain in your teeth or jaw
Earache
Limited mobility in your jaw
If you notice any of these signs, then it’s time to arrange a visit to your dentist in Warwick. Your dentist will carry out an examination of your teeth and jaw, including taking X-rays to see what is going on below the surface. X-rays are often essential for diagnosing wisdom teeth problems as this will reveal if your teeth are impacted.
Treatment for impacted wisdom teeth
If your teeth do not have space to emerge and are therefore impacted, then the only option will be to extract the teeth. This might be more complex than a routine extraction and you might be referred to the hospital if the procedure is likely to be more complex.
The tooth might need to be removed in parts if it is emerging at an angle, or your dental surgeon might need to remove part of the jaw bone to make space to remove the tooth.
If you have multiple impacted wisdom teeth, these will often be removed at once to reduce the amount of individual procedures that you need. While it might sound scary, your mouth will be numb the whole time, so the only sensation you might feel will be some pressure in your jaw.
When is wisdom tooth pain an emergency?
Infections in your wisdom teeth can cause complications if they are not addressed, or if the infection is severe. The swelling in your face and restricted movement in your jaw can make it difficult to breathe and swallow, which can quickly become life threatening.
If you have severe swelling and you are struggling to breathe or swallow, you should treat this as an emergency and go to A&E. An abscess can also become life threatening if the infection spreads to other parts of your body. If you become confused, or if you have fever, chills and a rapid heart rate, this would also be considered an emergency.
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