Signs that your wisdom teeth may be impacted

A wisdom tooth that fails to break through the gums at all is known as a totally impacted tooth. An impacted wisdom tooth is not ideal as it may also cause an infection that leads to pain and other dental problems like cysts or bone damage.

An impacted wisdom tooth is one that does one of the following:

Emerges out of alignment
Fails to erupt fully, or
Gets stuck below the surface of the gums

The best way to determine whether your wisdom tooth is to consult a dentist to assess your condition with a proper diagnostic and evaluative oral examination. However, you may also experience warning signs and symptoms such as the following:

Red, swollen or bleeding Gums

When your teeth are impacted due to an infection, swelling or bleeding around the infected gum area is a common symptom. The infection will likely cause pain and redness in the gums. Left untreated, the infection may spread to the other molars and cause damage.

Pain in and around jaw

If you are experiencing pain in the back of your jaw, it may be caused by an emerging wisdom tooth that is pressing against a neighbouring back molar. This is largely due to insufficient space in your jaw to accommodate its development.

Difficulty opening your mouth

As your impacted wisdom tooth struggles for space in your jaw, it not only shifts the neighbouring teeth out of alignment but also moves your jawline. This is why some patients with an impacted wisdom tooth experience excruciating pain and stiffness in their jaw area. The swelling of gums and jaws can deteriorate to the point when it may be difficult to open your mouth.

Unpleasant taste in the mouth and bad breath

An impacted wisdom may create a breeding haven for bacteria leading to infections, cysts or decay. When that happens, it can leave you with a bad taste in your mouth and even cause bad breath (halitosis).

For more information on wisdom teeth and extraction click here

http://www.carltondental.com.au/our-services/melbourne-wisdom-teeth

If you or a loved one are suffering from any of the above symptoms it is advised to attend an oral exam where your dentist can best evaluate your condition. Please contact Carlton Dental on (03) 9347 2033.

Visit us for a Safe Wisdom Teeth Removal

Our dentists at Carlton Dental offer removal of wisdom teeth in a calm and compassionate environment that takes the anxiety out of tooth extraction. Whether you opt for local anaesthesia in one of our dentists’ chairs or general anaesthesia in a hospital, the choice is entirely yours. Oral sedatives are also available to you in our surgery as an accompaniment to local anaesthesia if you prefer. While the local anaesthetic alone will prevent pain, the sedation lessens your awareness of the procedure. Of course, general anaesthesia in a hospital enables you to be completely unaware of the entire experience as you sleep through the procedure.

Whichever option you choose, you are our primary concern. Ensuring your comfort and relaxation as we provide excellence in dental care is our commitment to you.