Once you’ve reached your late teens to early twenties, your wisdom teeth or third molars will begin to erupt. People tend to have four wisdom teeth at the back of the mouth — two on the top and two on the bottom. Sometimes, they may become impacted because there's less room in your jaw for third molar eruptions.

Impacted wisdom teeth can be painless. But in some cases, it can result in pain and damage to other teeth, as well as lead to other oral issues such as gum disease, tooth decay and an infection called pericoronitis. When left untreated, the infection can spread to the throat or neck.

Symptoms Of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

There’s a chance you might not even realize you have impacted teeth. Regular dental visits and x-rays can catch impacted teeth early before symptoms emerge. Symptoms include:

• Red or swollen gums
• Tender or bleeding gums
• Jaw pain
• Swelling around the jaw
• Bad breath
• An unpleasant taste in your mouth
• Difficulty opening your mouth
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

Treatment

If the impacted tooth continues to cause pain, the best way to treat it is through extraction. Our dentists at Dental Image Therapy Centres can do the procedure in-house or may refer you to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for teeth removal. You can have all four wisdom teeth removed at once. After surgery, you may have swelling of the cheeks and jaw. Follow your dentist or oral surgeon's instructions carefully for the best recovery.

Consult with your dentist if you experience any pain in your mouth. When you visit us regularly, our team will keep track of your wisdom teeth and let you know if they need to be taken out. Haven’t seen us for over six months? Book an appointment with us today at two of our convenient Winnipeg locations at St. Vital Centre and Garden City Shopping Centre.