06 Oct Impacted Wisdom Teeth: 4 Signs They Are Ready to Come Out
Knowing the signs that wisdom teeth need to come out can help you bypass serious oral health issues. Sometimes, you don’t realize there’s a problem until it’s too late and pain and discomfort set in. Since the most commonly impacted teeth are wisdom teeth, it’s important to recognize the issue early, before infection or pain worsens. If you are already experiencing these symptoms, our oral surgeons experienced with impacted wisdom teeth in Charlottesville can determine whether extraction is the right option for you.
1. Persistent Pain
Wisdom teeth pain is a precursor to bigger issues, beginning with mild discomfort at the back of your mouth, mainly while chewing or opening your mouth. This pain might be intermittent at first, but as the tooth tries to erupt and pushes against neighboring teeth, it increases in intensity and frequency.
2. Swollen or Infected Gums
Bacteria and food granules can collect in the little pockets created when wisdom teeth become impacted. Common signs of impacted wisdom tooth infection include swollen, bleeding, or red gums; a funny taste in your mouth or bad breath; and tenderness in the wisdom tooth area. Addressing these symptoms quickly can stop infection from spreading and creating more serious problems. In many cases, your oral surgeon may prescribe a course of antibiotics first to clear the infection before removal.
3. Trouble Opening Your Mouth or Jaw Pain
Patients often ask, “Can impacted wisdom teeth cause jaw pain?” The answer is a definite yes. The compression from impacted wisdom teeth can lead to jaw pain, stiffness, headaches, and tenderness while you are chewing. These problems may become more severe without treatment and affect your day-to-day activities.
4. Crowding or Damage to Neighboring Teeth
If you’re wondering, “What happens if you don’t remove impacted teeth?” It could lead to serious problems. Wisdom teeth are tenacious, always trying to erupt, and they can cause crowding or damage because of the constant pressure on neighboring teeth. If you’ve had orthodontic work, wisdom teeth erupting could compromise that treatment.
Overlooking these telltale signs can turn small problems into bigger ones, so if you are experiencing any of the listed symptoms, it’s essential that you contact our office immediately for an extraction evaluation. Catching impacted wisdom teeth early not only prevents pain and discomfort but also protects your oral health. Our experienced team can determine if wisdom teeth removal is the right step for you and help you understand what to expect throughout the entire process.