Wisdom Tooth Pain | Love Your Smile Today

About Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. Sometimes these teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned, but more often, they are misaligned and require removal.

When wisdom teeth are misaligned, they may position themselves horizontally, be angled toward or away from the second molars, or be angled inward or outward. Poor alignment of wisdom teeth can crowd or damage adjacent teeth, the jawbone, or nerves.

Wisdom teeth also can be impacted — they are enclosed within the soft tissue and/or the jawbone or only partially break through or erupt through the gum. Partial eruption of the wisdom teeth allows an opening for bacteria to enter around the tooth and cause an infection, which results in pain, swelling, jaw stiffness, and general illness. Partially erupted teeth are also more prone to tooth decay and gum disease, because their hard-to-reach location and awkward positioning makes brushing and flossing difficult.

Impacted wisdom teeth marked in red

FACT: Wisdom teeth got their nickname from the age when they typically grow in.

Wisdom teeth are actually called third molars. So why do people call them wisdom teeth? The third molars do not grow in until the dental arch becomes larger, which generally occures around the age of 17-25, a time also referred to as the “age of wisdom.”

Wisdom Teeth Removal

Some wisdom teeth will never erupt and will stay impacted. Those that do erupt can cause pain as they break through the gum tissue. Prior to the removal of any teeth, especially wisdom teeth, there are clinical examinations and radiographs that should be taken. Wisdom teeth may be close to the mandibular nerve or sinus cavity and disturbance of these can cause serious issues. Removal of wisdom teeth is a surgical procedure and is often recommended to be done under conscious sedation. If you or your child is experiencing pain or tenderness, erupted wisdom teeth could be one of many causes. Give us a call and we will make the proper diagnosis and design the best treatment plan for the problem.