Wisdom teeth are molars that grow to the deepest point on either side of the arches. These four teeth are the last to come out and perform their function - typically, they appear in late teens or early adulthood. However, if they don't have enough space, they sometimes don't erupt or only partially erupt while remaining included. It is important to be able to distinguish a wisdom tooth that is sticking out normally from an included one, because the latter can cause problems that require dentist intervention.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Recognizing the Signs of a Growing Wisdom Tooth
Step 1. Know which area of your mouth to look at
The wisdom teeth are the last molars of each hemiarch and perform the function of grinding food; they are not essential for chewing properly, but they pop up as the jaw grows and lengthens during the later teenage years. Open your mouth and use a stylus flashlight to look in the back. Wisdom teeth are considered to be the third set of molars and occupy the fifth place after the canines.
- See if there is enough space for these teeth to come out; they typically don't grow until the jaw is wide enough.
- If your teeth are already very crowded or crooked, there's a good chance that your judgmental teeth won't erupt completely.
Step 2. Feel the area behind the second molar using your tongue
Once you understand where the wisdom tooth should appear, use your tongue to touch it. When a tooth begins to erupt, it pushes through the gum; the upper part, called the crown, is the first to appear. Before the tooth passes through the soft tissues (the gum) and causes pain, you should be able to feel a hard lump behind the second molar.
- If your tongue is not long enough to reach this area, you can use your index finger; remember to wash it before putting it in your mouth.
- Generally, we tend to unconsciously bring the tongue to painful areas or where there are sharp elements, especially if they are new.
Step 3. Pay attention to pain in the jaw or gums
When the wisdom tooth erupts, you should expect at least some discomfort during the stage where the crown passes through the sensitive mucous membranes. Notice any short-term light pain, sensation of pressure, or throbbing discomfort in the back of the mouth or near the jawline. The pain can be more intense if the tooth grows crooked due to a crowded arch. When the molar sticks out straight and well positioned in relation to the other teeth, the symptoms go almost completely unnoticed.
- The pain may be greater during the night, especially if you have a tendency to clench your jaw or suffer from bruxism.
- Chewing gum or eating hard, crunchy food can aggravate the situation and increase symptoms.
Step 4. Look for red and swollen areas
Wisdom teeth eruption causes gum inflammation. You may be able to feel swollen tissues with your tongue or see them when you open your mouth; use a stylus flashlight to see better. When the gums are red and edematous, it is called gingivitis; this prevents or makes it more difficult to chew food. Wisdom teeth increase the frequency with which you bite your tongue or the inside of your cheeks, because they can make your mouth "crowded".
- You may also notice blood near the tooth, or the saliva may be red. it is not a common symptom, but it can occur.
- You may also see a gum flap above the emerging tooth called the pericoronal flap.
- When your gums are swollen, you may have a hard time opening your mouth to eat. This is a common discomfort, especially with the last molars of the lower arch, because the inflammation spreads to the masseter muscle, which in turn contributes to the opening movement of the jaw. For this reason, it may be necessary to drink pureed food and beverages for a few days; however, do not use a straw, as this could trigger dry alveolitis.
Step 5. Watch your wisdom teeth as they grow
When the crown has broken the gum surface, keep pushing until it reaches the same level as the other molars. This process takes a few weeks or even months and you should be able to tell if the tooth is growing straight or not. If the new molar does not develop in the right direction, it may get too close to the others, exert pressure and misalign the front ones that are visible when you smile.
- Wisdom teeth that erupt crooked create a "domino effect" along the entire arch, altering or twisting the others.
- If you think the front ones have suddenly become crooked, compare your smile to that of old photographs.
- Once wisdom teeth are extracted, those that have become crooked should return to their natural position within a few weeks or months.
Part 2 of 2: Recognizing the Signs of an Included Wisdom Tooth
Step 1. Learn what an embedded wisdom tooth is
It is a molar that has not erupted and has remained in the jawbone, below the gum line, or has not erupted normally. It is usually blocked by a gum flap or grows at a very pronounced angle; in some cases it develops horizontally rather than vertically. It is important to remember that this situation does not always cause problems or symptoms and that extraction is not always necessary.
- It is quite common for a patient to have one fully erupted, one partially erupted and one included tooth at the same time.
- The longer the tooth remains in the mouth, the more roots develop, making it difficult to extract if symptoms occur.
Step 2. Don't ignore severe pain or severe inflammation
Impacted wisdom teeth are not automatically symptomatic, but when they are the discomfort tends to be debilitating. Unlike the slight pain that accompanies a normal growth process, when the last molar remains below the gum line, the patient experiences severe throbbing pain (in the mucous membranes and jaw), complains of headache, swelling, neck stiffness, ear pain and / or reduced ability to open the mouth. If this description reflects your situation, it means that your wisdom tooth is not coming out properly and you must see a dentist immediately.
- To distinguish a tooth that is emerging from an included one, we generally refer to the intensity of the symptoms; in the second case, the pain and swelling are more severe, lasting and do not improve until the extraction is carried out.
- The discomfort caused by a normal dental eruption lasts only until the crown crosses the gum line, while that of an impacted tooth does not subside and sometimes the molar does not even appear.
- If it doesn't pop up vertically, in the normal position, you may feel a constant pain spreading throughout the jaw to the midline.
Step 3. Be aware of the signs of infection
A partially erupted or impacted tooth poses a serious risk of infection, called pericoronitis. There may be a small space between the tooth and the pericoronal flap, where bacteria that consume enamel, bone and gum tissue proliferate. Typical signs of infection are: severe inflammation, intense pain (throbbing and / or stinging), mild fever, swollen lymph nodes in the neck and jaw line, purulent discharge near the inflamed gum, bad breath and an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
- Pus is a grayish-white liquid made up of white blood cells; these are specialized cells of the immune system that destroy bacteria and eventually die forming pus.
- Bad breath is due to the waste products of bacteria, pus and blood leaking from the infected tooth.
Step 4. Know when to see a dentist
In the presence of severe symptoms that last more than a few days or in case of clear signs of infection, an emergency visit is advisable. The dentist takes an x-ray, administers some anesthetic and extracts the included wisdom tooth that is causing problems. They may also prescribe antibiotics before the procedure to prevent the infection from spreading into the blood system. Extractions that occur before the age of 20 usually have better results, because the tooth roots have not fully developed.
- Complications that accompany an impacted tooth infection are: gum or dental abscess, cyst, and septicemia (bacterial infection of the blood).
- The Association of American Dentists recommends that all adolescents between the ages of 16 and 19 have their wisdom teeth referred for the attention of a qualified dentist.
Advice
- Pain relievers (analgesics) or anti-inflammatories can manage the pain caused by an impacted or emerging wisdom tooth.
- Apply a cold compress to the jaw to reduce swelling and pain caused by an impacted tooth.
- When dealing with an impacted wisdom tooth it is important to maintain good oral hygiene, otherwise bacteria proliferate and cause an infection.
- If you are concerned that the impacted tooth is infected, fight off bacteria by rinsing your mouth with warm salt water and / or antiseptic mouthwashes several times a day.
- To manage pain, eat soft foods (yogurt, soft cheese, spaghetti in broth, wet bread) and drink cold liquids to reduce irritation.
- You cannot prevent the wisdom tooth from being included under a gum flap; however, by visiting your dentist regularly you can prevent this from becoming a problem.
- Clove oil relieves pain.
