Wisdom teeth make their appearance usually between mid-adolescence and early adulthood. These are the last permanent adult teeth to grow. When a wisdom tooth breaks through the gum’s surface, this is known as an erupted tooth.
Wisdom tooth eruption can be a painful experience for some, especially if it has not fully erupted. Here’s how to tell if you’re experiencing a wisdom tooth eruption and what to do about it.
Signs and Symptoms of Wisdom Tooth Eruption
Are you experiencing any or all of these symptoms? Consult your local periodontist right away to seek treatment options.
Pain In The Jaw
If wisdom teeth grow in a path that is out of alignment or if other teeth block them, this puts additional pressure on the existing teeth. This can cause pain or a dull ache in the jaw and the sinuses. In turn, this may lead to chronic headaches.
Overcrowded or misaligned growth can also cause impacted wisdom teeth. This occurs when the tooth cannot break the gum surface due to being blocked. Impacted wisdom teeth are at increased risk of developing an infection or other dental problems.[1]
Gum Irritation, Swelling, or Redness
Seeing a dark pink or redness in the gums near the area where the tooth may be growing is a common sign of wisdom tooth eruption. Erupting or impacted wisdom teeth can also cause swelling and painful irritation. This can make chewing uncomfortable.
Visible White Dots
Small white dots behind the back molars indicate that a wisdom tooth is making its way to the surface. This is nothing to be alarmed about. It’s simply the first glimpse of the tooth itself as it gets closer to the surface without having erupted yet.
A Swollen Face or Jawline
Any oral infection can cause facial swelling. If it’s related to an incoming wisdom tooth or an impacted wisdom tooth, the swelling will be near the back of the jaw and can be as high as the cheekbones.
Mouth Feeling Overcrowded
When any tooth comes in, this will change how the mouth feels. As a wisdom tooth grows, this feeling can intensify due to the number of teeth already present.
When To Treat A Wisdom Tooth Eruption
If the wisdom tooth is not impacted and finds plenty of room along the jawline to grow without overcrowding, there may not be much pain or discomfort associated with the eruption. Extraction may not be necessary.
However, this is not the case for many patients. Impacted wisdom teeth can occur due to a lack of space, obstruction, or abnormal positioning.
This can be incredibly painful and may cause or contribute to misaligned or crooked teeth. It can also cause pain, swelling, and infection and may even destroy surrounding teeth and jaw bone.[2]
If the mouth doesn’t have room to accommodate new teeth and the risk of misalignment is high, or the patient is experiencing too much pain due to the tooth being impacted, it may be time to schedule a wisdom tooth extraction.
In addition, an ignored impacted wisdom tooth can lead to damage or decay. If left untreated, that decay or infection can spread to the pulp or root of the tooth, causing more pain.
Contact Dental Implants & Periodontal Health of Rochester for Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Extracting wisdom teeth before they can cause further problems is the safest route for long-term oral health. At Dental Implants & Periodontal Health of Rochester, we promote gentle dentistry to ensure this is a simple and relatively pain-free procedure. Our board-certified oral surgeon is a specialist at extracting wisdom teeth. Contact our team today for a consultation! 585-685-2005
Sources:
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4148832/
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4148832/