Signs that your wisdom teeth need to be removed

Most teenagers assume that the pain of teething is long behind them after their adult teeth come in. However, between the ages of 14 and 19, most people will start to experience a rather peculiar discomfort in the back of their mouths, and this is the formation and eruption of wisdom teeth.

These teeth are particularly tricky to get around in dental care, as there is rarely room in the mouth for them, as all the other teeth have erupted; this means they are more likely to cause dental issues. Therefore, if you suspect an issue with your wisdom teeth, you need to see our team.

At Family Dental Care, our dentist in Doncaster East knows all there is to know about the correct eruption of wisdom teeth and the signs of an issue requiring a full extraction. We will, of course, aim to save your wisdom teeth if we can but just note that for most people, this may not be an option.

With that in mind, what are some of the key indicators that your wisdom teeth need to be extracted? Our dentist in Doncaster East provides the following short guide.

Recurring infections

Nobody likes oral infections, and when it comes to wisdom teeth, they are quite renowned for getting infected, particularly at the roots. This can cause excessive discomfort and will usually require an emergency appointment with our dentist in Doncaster East. If you do have recurring infections with your wisdom teeth and there is no obvious cause, such as decay, our team will need to remove the teeth to prevent sepsis and damage to the bone.

Discomfort

Next on the list is discomfort. While you can expect there to be some discomfort as these teeth erupt, this should gradually fade. If you notice a pang or ache when you bite or chew food with your wisdom teeth, this can be a sign that they need to be removed and can be due to inflammation or problems with the formation of the pulp.

Swelling in the jaw

A swollen jaw is not a good sign, and if you have swelling in your upper or lower jaw as your wisdom teeth are erupting, this will need to be assessed by our dental team. Minor swelling during dental eruptions can be overlooked if it goes down. If your wisdom teeth are causing your jaw to swell to the point where you cannot comfortably close your mouth, eat or even breathe, you need to see our team.

Impaction

Impacted teeth are high on the list of ouch and are caused by a tooth not erupting at the correct angle and actually pushing against a neighbouring one. Wisdom teeth are renowned for doing this, so if you have impacted wisdom teeth, they will need to be extracted.

Bleeding

Some minor bleeding as the teeth erupt is normal, but if you notice recurring bleeding after your wisdom teeth have erupted, this can be a sign of an infection or spacing around the tooth, which will need to be looked at by our team.

DISCLAIMER

All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.