Wisdom Teeth Removal

How do I know if I urgently need my wisdom teeth removed?

While every patient is different, there are some common signs that indicate the need to have your wisdom teeth removed sooner rather than later. These signs include:

• Impaction, i.e., if the tooth is stuck under the gums or is completely hidden. If wisdom teeth aren’t able to emerge normally, they can become trapped within your jaw which can result in infection or cause a cyst that can damage other teeth or roots.
• Fracturing or splitting of existing teeth is caused by wisdom teeth not having enough room to come in properly.
• Partial emergence caused infection —if your wisdom teeth are only partially emerged through the gums they can be a magnet for bacteria that can cause oral infection.

How do I relieve wisdom tooth pain?

As wisdom teeth grow up through your jawbone and begin to break through your gum line, they may become inflamed or bleed. This can cause headaches or tooth pain. Here are some remedies to relieve wisdom tooth pain:

1. Rinse with salt water, this will also help reduce the risk of infection if not already present
2. Apply peppermint extract to your gums to soothe pain
3. Take aspirin or an over-the-counter pain reliever
4. Apply an ice pack or heating pad to your cheeks

What is an impacted wisdom tooth?

When a wisdom tooth doesn’t have enough room to come in normally, it is considered an impacted wisdom tooth. There are several degrees of impacted wisdom teeth depending on where the teeth lie within the jaw. Soft tissue impaction occurs when the crown of the tooth has penetrated through the bone, but the gum is still covering part of the tooth. When the tooth has partially erupted, but a part of the tooth remains submerged in the jawbone, this is considered partially bony impaction. Complete bony impaction occurs when the tooth is entirely encased by jawbone.