Has your dentist recently told you that you need to have an emergency wisdom tooth extraction? If you’re not sure why this procedure is necessary, it’s essential to understand what wisdom teeth are and what can go wrong with them.
Wisdom teeth are called third molars and usually appear between the ages of 17 and 25. However, in some cases, they can erupt much earlier or later.
They are generally not essential teeth and are often responsible for a lot of dental problems. In this post, we’ll discuss the causes of emergency wisdom tooth removal.
1. Crowding
When there is not enough space for your wisdom teeth to come in, they can grow in at an angle or become impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause swelling, pain, and infection. They may even push against other teeth, causing them to shift out of place.
This can lead to bite problems, which can cause headaches or jaw pain. To prevent crowding, it is important to track the growth of your wisdom teeth. If you are experiencing pain, swelling, or redness around the area, or have difficulty opening your mouth, you should contact your dentist immediately.
Your dentist may recommend an X-ray to check the position of your wisdom teeth and to determine if extraction is necessary. The procedure can be done under local anesthesia and will usually take about an hour to complete.
2. Cysts
A cyst is a fluid-filled sac that can develop around the crown of the tooth. It usually forms when the tooth has not fully emerged from the gum and is still partially or fully impacted. When this happens, the cyst can grow and cause pressure on the surrounding teeth, bones, and nerves.
This can lead to pain, swelling, and infection. If left untreated, the cyst can also cause damage to the jawbone and other teeth. In severe cases, it may even become cancerous.
The only way to treat a cyst is to have the wisdom tooth removed. If you suspect that you have a cyst, it’s important to seek immediate dental care.
3. Dental Caries
Another common reason why emergency wisdom tooth removal is necessary is due to dental caries, or tooth decay. When a cavity forms in a wisdom tooth, it can cause pain and sensitivity. As the decay progresses, it may infect the pulp of the tooth, which can lead to an abscess.
If left untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of your mouth or body and can cause serious health problems. To prevent dental caries, it is important to practice good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily, and use mouthwash to help kill bacteria that can cause decay.
Avoid sugary foods and drinks, and visit your dentist twice a year for regular cleanings and checkups. If your dentist finds a cavity in your wisdom tooth, they may recommend extraction to prevent further damage to the tooth and to avoid more serious health problems.
The procedure is done under local anesthesia and will take about an hour to complete. You must take care of the extraction site and avoid strenuous activities while recovering.
4. Gum Disease
This is a bacterial infection that affects the gums and the bones that support the teeth. It usually develops when there is a buildup of plaque and tartar on the teeth, which can lead to inflammation and bleeding of the gums. When gum disease affects the wisdom teeth, it can cause them to become loose, infected, or even drop out on their own.
This can be very painful, and the only solution is often to have the affected tooth removed. To prevent gum disease, it’s essential to practice good oral hygiene, such as brushing and flossing daily and getting regular checkups and cleanings from a dental professional.
5. Infection
One of the most common causes of emergency wisdom tooth removal is an infection that occurs when bacteria enter the gums around the impacted tooth. When the tooth does not have enough room to come in properly, it can create a flap of gum tissue where food particles and bacteria can become trapped. This can lead to an infection known as pericoronitis, which causes redness, swelling, and pain in the gums around the tooth.
In severe cases, pericoronitis can cause fever, swollen lymph nodes, and difficulty breathing or swallowing. If left untreated, the infection can spread to other areas of the mouth and even the bloodstream, which can be life-threatening. Emergency wisdom tooth removal may be necessary to remove the source of the infection and prevent it from spreading.
6. Eruption Pain
This occurs when the tooth is trying to emerge through the gum tissue. This process can be painful, especially if the tooth is impacted or angled toward adjacent teeth. Symptoms of eruption pain may include intense discomfort, swelling, and bleeding gums.
In addition, it can cause damage to other teeth as the wisdom tooth tries to push through the gum line and into the mouth. If left untreated, the impacted tooth can cause the formation of cysts or damage the surrounding teeth.
In some cases, over-the-counter pain relievers and topical treatments can help relieve the symptoms of eruption pain. However, if the pain is severe or there are signs of infection, emergency wisdom tooth removal may be necessary.
7. Pericoronitis
This condition occurs when the gum tissue around a partially erupted wisdom tooth becomes infected and inflamed. The pressure from the tooth pushing through the gums can cause the gum tissue to become irritated, leading to inflammation.
In some cases, the infection can spread to the jaw, causing serious complications. Symptoms of pericoronitis include pain, swelling, difficulty opening your mouth, and a bad taste or odor in your mouth.
8. Impacted Teeth
An impacted tooth is a tooth that is unable to emerge from the gum. This is a very common reason why people seek emergency wisdom tooth removal. An impacted tooth can be painful, cause swelling, infection, and in some cases, lead to the formation of cysts.
If left untreated, impacted teeth can also cause damage to the adjacent teeth, jawbone, and nerves. Some symptoms of an affected tooth include pain, swelling, and redness of the gums.
In some cases, you may also experience bad breath, difficulty opening your mouth, or a bad taste in your mouth. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to consult your dentist as soon as possible.
9. Incorrect alignment
This can occur due to the lack of space in your mouth to accommodate the new teeth. As the wisdom teeth grow, they can push against the existing teeth and cause issues like overcrowding and shifting of the teeth. In extreme cases, this can even lead to a misaligned bite.
Some common symptoms of incorrect alignment include discomfort or pain in the back of your mouth, difficulty opening your mouth wide, and swelling or redness around the area. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to get them checked by your dentist to determine if an emergency wisdom tooth removal is necessary.
10. Tumors
Several types of tumors may develop in the jaw or mouth that need immediate attention. If you discover a hard lump or bump in your jaw that is painful, you must schedule an appointment with a dentist right away. Some common types of tumors that can grow in the mouth include ameloblastoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and odontogenic myxoma.
Your dentist will likely take an X-ray to determine if the tumor is benign or malignant. If the growth is small and cancer-free, the dentist will most likely recommend removing the impacted wisdom tooth. If it is a larger growth, surgical removal will be required, and in that case, the dentist will likely refer you to an oral surgeon.
11. Cavity Formation
While not as common as difficulty chewing, cavity formation is another reason people may experience a need for emergency wisdom tooth removal. When wisdom teeth begin to emerge, they can present new spaces in the mouth for bacteria to grow, which can increase the likelihood of cavities forming. In some cases, this can even lead to the development of gum disease if left untreated for long enough.
Cavities that form in wisdom teeth can be particularly difficult to treat as they are located at the back of the mouth and difficult to reach with traditional oral hygiene practices. When a cavity becomes too large or severe, emergency wisdom tooth removal may be required to prevent further damage to the rest of the mouth.
12. Over-Bite
People with an over-bite, an abnormal alignment of their top and bottom jaws, may face dental complications caused by wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth can exert extra pressure on the front teeth and the jaw, which can lead to stiffness, jaw pain, and headaches. One way to address over-bite and reduce the pressure on the teeth is by using orthodontic treatment.
When people with over-bite don’t get orthodontic treatment to correct the bite, and their wisdom teeth are left to grow roots, it can aggravate the dental conditions. The wisdom teeth grow roots that can increase the pressure on the molars, leading to further dental and jaw pain. If left untreated for too long, an over-bite can cause crowding, shifting teeth, tooth decay, and gum disease.
13. Difficulty Chewing
This is because wisdom teeth are located at the back of the mouth, making them difficult to reach and causing a considerable amount of pain and discomfort if they are impacted. When wisdom teeth are impacted, they can put pressure on the surrounding teeth and gums, causing inflammation and pain throughout the entire mouth. Furthermore, wisdom teeth that are impacted or overcrowding other teeth can affect a person’s bite, making it difficult to chew food or causing jaw pain.
If left untreated, this can lead to more severe issues such as infection, bone loss, and damage to the surrounding teeth. Emergency wisdom tooth removal is often the only option to reduce these symptoms and protect the health of the rest of the mouth.
14. Malocclusion
Malocclusion is another common reason why wisdom teeth may need to be removed. When wisdom teeth emerge at odd angles, they can cause discomfort and pain. They may also damage adjacent teeth and cause problems with your bite.
Furthermore, when wisdom teeth emerge at an angle, they may push against the other molars, causing crowding. This can lead to issues such as gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss and other oral health issues.
Malocclusion can be corrected by braces or other orthodontic treatments in some cases. However, if the wisdom teeth are causing significant pain and discomfort, an emergency wisdom tooth removal may be necessary.
15. Perio-Endo Lesion
A perio-endo lesion occurs when bacteria reach the pulp of a tooth through the periodontal ligament. This causes an infection that can lead to swelling, pain, and discomfort. When this happens to wisdom teeth, bacteria can get trapped between the gum and the tooth, causing an abscess.
If the abscess is left untreated, it can lead to serious health issues. An emergency wisdom tooth removal is often necessary to prevent the infection from spreading. Moreover, perio-endo lesions are often asymptomatic until the infection reaches an advanced stage.
Patients who have wisdom teeth emerging should schedule regular dental check-ups to catch any signs of a perio-endo lesion early. If caught in time, root canal treatment or antibiotics may be prescribed to address the problem. However, if the infection is too severe, an emergency wisdom tooth extraction may be the best option.
16. TMJ problems
When wisdom teeth fail to emerge fully and get stuck in the jawbone, gum tissue, or soft tissue, they become impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause many dental problems that warrant treatment, including infections, decay, crowding, and cysts.
If impacted wisdom teeth become infected, it can cause unbearable tooth pain, swelling, gum inflammation, jaw stiffness, and fever. When seeking emergency dentistry for wisdom tooth removal, it is important to know the right emergency dentistry questions to ask to ensure proper treatment and recovery.
Address Emergency Wisdom Tooth Removal to Ensure Optimal Oral Health
Understanding the most frequent causes of emergency wisdom tooth removal can help prevent this painful and stressful experience. Be sure to maintain good oral hygiene, watch the growth and positioning of your wisdom teeth, and seek prompt treatment for any signs of infection or discomfort.
Take care of your oral health and schedule regular dental check-ups to avoid the need for emergency wisdom tooth removal. Visit your dentist today to ensure a healthy and pain-free smile!
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