Top Signs You Need Your Wisdom Teeth Removed

The emergence of wisdom teeth can often cause pain, discomfort, and other complications such as tooth damage, infection, or cysts. Our approach involves a thorough examination of your oral health, including X-rays, if necessary, to determine if your wisdom teeth are causing these issues.

Here are some common signs that you might need to have your wisdom teeth removed:

• Persistent Pain: Ongoing discomfort or pain at the back of your mouth, where your wisdom teeth are located, can suggest that they are impacted or causing pressure on nearby teeth.
• Swelling and Gum Issues: Swelling in the gums or jaw, along with redness, tenderness, or repeated infections, may indicate problems with how your wisdom teeth are emerging.
• Teeth Crowding: If your teeth are becoming overcrowded or you notice changes in their alignment, it could be a result of your wisdom teeth pushing against other teeth.
• Jaw Stiffness: Difficulty in fully opening your mouth or stiffness in your jaw can be related to issues with your wisdom teeth.
• Cysts or Decay: The presence of cysts (fluid-filled sacs) or signs of decay around your wisdom teeth can also signal the need for extraction.

The third molars (wisdom teeth) are the last set of teeth to develop and can cause a variety of discomforts and pains, especially when they become impacted or struggle to emerge due to insufficient space.

• Patients often report a constant dull ache, which could be a sign of a wisdom tooth trying to find room to emerge. This pain is persistent and may occasionally amplify, making everyday activities like eating or sleeping difficult.
• Sharp shooting pains are also common and typically occur when the wisdom tooth emerges at an odd angle, pressing onto adjacent teeth or nerves. This can cause intense bursts of pain that not only affect the mouth but can also spread to the jaw.
• Patients also frequently experience a feeling of pressure or sensitivity associated with impacted wisdom teeth. This discomfort often accompanies a gnawing, persistent pain that can be particularly distressing.
• Gum pain or swelling, is another common symptom that patients report. Infections resulting from problematic wisdom teeth can lead to swollen, tender gums and may even cause bad breath, and difficulty swallowing.
• Facial pain that extends beyond the tooth to the jaw, cheeks, and temples, as well as headaches and earaches due to pressure applied to nerves and tissues, are also symptoms that we regularly encounter in patients with problematic wisdom teeth. These issues can also make eating or speaking difficult.

Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, can often cause issues because of misalignment or lack of space in the jaw or potentially causing a shift in other teeth, overcrowding, and bite misalignment.

The impact of wisdom teeth on your bite can manifest in various ways:

• Crowding and Misalignment: Wisdom teeth can push against neighboring teeth if the jaw lacks the space to accommodate them, causing other teeth to move from their correct position, leading to a misaligned bite.
• Malocclusion: Severe crowding or misalignment can result in malocclusion, where teeth do not fit together correctly when the jaw is closed.

Beyond the impact on bite, wisdom teeth can negatively affect overall oral function:

• Cavities and Gum Disease: Particularly those wisdom teeth that are impacted or partially exposed and challenging to clean, can create pockets around the teeth where food and bacteria can be trapped, leading to an increased risk of cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease.
• Pain and Discomfort: The pressure from emerging wisdom teeth can cause pain, swelling, and discomfort in the jaw, gums, and surrounding tissues.
• Infections and Other Complications: In some cases, impacted wisdom teeth can lead to infections, cysts, or tumors, causing more severe pain and potentially damaging surrounding teeth or bone structure. Impacted wisdom teeth can also result in Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders, a condition that affects the joint connecting the jawbone to the skull.

We emphasize the importance of regular dental check-ups, especially during your late teens and early twenties, when wisdom teeth typically emerge. It is crucial to evaluate wisdom teeth early on to assess their growth, position, and potential impact on the bite and oral function. In cases where wisdom teeth could cause problems, extraction to preserve your oral health and prevent future complications may be recommended.

By addressing wisdom teeth concerns promptly, individuals can minimize the risk of developing bite problems, maintain optimal oral function, and preserve their long-term oral health.

An impacted wisdom tooth is a condition in which the third molars, otherwise known as wisdom teeth, do not have enough space to grow normally. This could be caused by a lack of jaw space, irregular growth of other teeth, crowding of existing teeth, or a physical obstruction like a cyst or tumor.

Impacted wisdom teeth can grow in various directions and may initially not present any symptoms. However, as the teeth try to emerge, they can cause pain, swelling, jaw tenderness, difficulty opening the mouth, and even gum infections. Impacted wisdom teeth can lead to more serious complications such as damage to surrounding teeth, gum disease, root resorption, and even cyst or tumor formation if it is left untreated.

At Rosecrans Square Dental, we use the latest diagnostic tools, including dental X-rays and panoramic radiographs, to accurately identify impacted wisdom teeth. If the impacted wisdom teeth are causing pain, damaging other teeth, or leading to other dental complications, we may recommend a surgical extraction. This procedure involves removing the teeth from the jawbone, usually under local anesthesia, but sedation or general anesthesia may be necessary for complex extractions.

Post-extraction, our team will provide comprehensive aftercare instructions to alleviate discomfort and aid recovery. Even if the impacted wisdom teeth are not causing any discomfort, Dr. Lee might recommend removal to prevent future problems.

At Rosecrans Square Dental, we are committed to delivering top-notch dental care in a comfortable and patient-friendly environment. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online! We are conveniently located at 11818 Rosecrans Ave, Ste B Norwalk, CA 90650. We serve patients from Norwalk CA, Artesia CA, Cerritos CA, Santa Fe Springs CA, Downey CA, Bellflower CA, La Mirada CA, Los Alamitos CA, Stanton CA, and surrounding areas.