Experiencing symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth?

wisdom teeth Dubuquewisdom teeth DubuqueYour third molars, more commonly known as the wisdom teeth, are the largest teeth in your mouth and the most likely to become impacted. When the wisdom teeth fail to erupt properly, they can cause a host of problems, including some that have potentially serious consequences.

Symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth may include the following:

  • Discomfort as the teeth continue to try to push through the gums
  • Painful abscesses with noticeable pus in the area
  • Swelling at the rear of the jaw that can indicate the development of a cyst or tumor
  • Damage to surrounding teeth
  • Teeth moving out of alignment in order to create room for the wisdom teeth

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms and you’ve never had your wisdom teeth removed, an oral surgeon can evaluate your case to determine if your wisdom teeth are indeed impacted and then recommend an appropriate course of treatment.

Most patients who have impacted wisdom teeth will consult with an oral surgeon about having them extracted. The procedure is a surgical one because it often requires the removal of surrounding bone to access the impacted teeth for extraction. It is typically completed in an outpatient setting in a surgery practice’s office.

Some patients may choose to have an oral surgeon remove impacted wisdom teeth even before they develop any symptoms to avoid the potential negative consequences associated with this condition. So, even if you don’t have any of the signs of impacted third molars, you can still consult with a specialist about having them removed.

Patients who are younger than age 25 generally tend to do better with wisdom tooth extraction, and the procedure can be performed on patients as early as their late teen years. This is another consideration of scheduling a wisdom tooth extraction.

Be aware of the signs of impacted wisdom teeth so that you can explore your treatment options that can provide symptom relief. If you’ve been experiencing any of these symptoms, contact Great River Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at any of our convenient locations to schedule an evaluation.