Associated with adolescence and causing a literal headache for most people, wisdom teeth have been a thorn in the side of people the world over since we first evolved teeth!
The last set of molars to erupt, these teeth make their presence known to most people between the ages of 11 and 17, and as you can imagine, they can cause a fair share of problems too!
When you come to Epping High Dental with wisdom teeth issues, our dentist Lalor will aim to explore ways to keep these teeth in your mouth if possible. But if they are causing a nuisance, then we may need to say goodbye to your ‘wisdom’ teeth and eliminate any future issues before they occur.
In this short article, our dentist Lalor discusses some of the key symptoms that can point to your wisdom teeth needing to be removed, so you know what to look out for with yourself and your teenage children.
Discomfort
One of the most obvious signs that your wisdom teeth need to be removed, according to our dentist Lalor, is discomfort at the back of the mouth.
This can present as discomfort when opening your mouth wide, discomfort when eating and discomfort when food comes into contact with the back of your mouth.
If you notice any of these signs, then you need to see our team promptly for an assessment.
Swollen or sore gums
Following on from having general discomfort in your mouth is swollen and sore gums at the back of your mouth.
When your wisdom teeth erupt, a gap has to form in the gum line, and this area can act as a magnet for food and debris to become trapped. This can lead to inflammation of the gums due to an immune response and also heighten the chances of you developing gum disease and even abscesses.
While we will usually wait until the tooth has fully erupted before deciding whether or not to remove it, having such a pronounced gap between the gum and tooth is likely to spell issues ahead.
Bleeding
Bleeding when teeth are erupting is not an unusual issue, but if there is excessive bleeding, this can point to potential infection or an issue with a blood vessel due to the tooth pushing through at an odd angle.
If you are spitting blood throughout the day or have a persistent metallic taste in your mouth when your wisdom teeth are coming through, please contact us for an assessment.
Headaches and earaches
Headaches and ear pain are, once again, not uncommon when it comes to erupting teeth. But with wisdom teeth, persistent headaches and ear pain can point to inflamed nerves in the jaw, which will need to be examined by our team.
Impaction
You may have heard of impacted teeth. This happens when a tooth is erupting, but instead of it erupting straight, it erupts at an angle, which means it is pushed against the roots of the neighbouring tooth. This can cause extreme discomfort and is more common with wisdom teeth than any other tooth.
If we take an x-ray and spot that your wisdom teeth are erupting into their neighbouring teeth, we will aim to take them out before they cause any more discomfort.
DISCLAIMER
All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.