Warning Signs of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

By: Joseph Pizzarello, DDS | Tags: | Comments: 2

Impacted wisdom teeth are third molars that are blocked from erupting by the jawbone or neighboring teeth. An impacted wisdom tooth can lead to serious complications, such as a cyst or infection, which could require you to seek out Massachusetts emergency dentistry services. Learning to recognize the early warning signs of impacted wisdom teeth can help you to avoid the need for emergency dental visits.

Recognizing impacted wisdom teeth symptoms

Gum pain, bleeding or tenderness is one of the first warning signs of an impacted wisdom tooth. Gums can also appear red and swollen, and you might even have swelling around the jaw, headaches, or difficulty chewing due to the pain or swelling.

As well as mouth pain in the rear molar region, signs of impacted wisdom teeth can include a bad taste in the mouth or bad breath. These symptoms can indicate that the impacted wisdom tooth has become infected, which means that you need urgent treatment.

What to do when you notice warning signs of impacted wisdom teeth

You should never ignore signs of impacted wisdom teeth. Book a dentist appointment as soon as you notice the symptoms listed above, either with your usual Melrose family dentist or with a Stoneham or Reading emergency dentist service if the pain is severe.

Treatment for impacted wisdom teeth

The most effective treatment for an impacted wisdom tooth is usually extraction of the tooth. If the tooth is trapped beneath bone and therefore difficult to access, extraction will often need to be performed by a dental surgeon. Burlington family dentists can assess impacted wisdom teeth and refer patients to dental surgeons if necessary.

To remove an impacted wisdom tooth, a Massachusetts dental surgeon will first make a small incision in the gum above the painful tooth. Sometimes, it is necessary to remove a small amount of bone or cut the tooth into pieces in order to extract it. You will be given an anesthetic to prevent you from feeling mouth pain during the extraction.

Why it’s important to get early treatment for impacted wisdom teeth

If impacted wisdom teeth are left untreated, they can start to rot in the gum, leading to gum disease, development of cysts, or decay of the adjoining teeth. As a result, it is important to be able to quickly recognize and respond to the early warning signs of an impacted wisdom tooth. Your Wakefield family dentist can also examine your wisdom teeth during each dental checkup, which could result in early detection of impaction. The risk of wisdom tooth impaction is just one reason why regular dental visits are so important for maintaining a healthy smile.

It is easy to access high-quality family dentistry in Woburn, Stoneham, Melrose, Reading, Winchester, Wakefield, and Burlington. Residents of these towns can protect themselves from serious dental complications by booking an dentist appointment as soon as they notice any kind of mouth pain starting to develop.

About Dr. Pizzarello