Will An Emergency Dentist Extract A Wisdom Tooth?

Wisdom teeth are the back molars at the far back of your mouth that erupt in the late teens or early 20s. Due to changes in diet over the years, some people don’t develop all their wisdom teeth. In other cases, wisdom teeth don’t have enough space in the jaw to erupt or form normally. For instance, your tooth can get trapped under the gum line or grow sideways.

Such a tooth often results in severe discomfort, infections, and other side effects. The dentist might recommend removing the tooth immediately or scheduling a later appointment. Keep reading to learn when you need an emergency wisdom tooth extraction.

Signs you Need A wisdom tooth extraction

When erupting, a wisdom tooth can cause minor soreness or discomfort at the back of the mouth. That is normal, and the symptoms should disappear in a few days. If the tooth grows normally, you don’t need to have it extracted. However, extraction may be unavoidable if the tooth is impacted. An impacted wisdom tooth can cause numerous complications, including:

• Mild to severe pain in teeth, gums, jaw, head, or face
• Teeth pain and damage: A wisdom tooth growing at the wrong angle can push against the nearby teeth, resulting in severe tooth pain, sensitivity, and trauma.
• Infections: Pericoronitis is the infection or inflammation of gun tissues around a wisdom tooth. An impacted wisdom tooth can cause too much pressure on the gums, causing irritation and infection. Signs of infection include swollen, sensitive, and bleeding gums. The infection can also cause cysts and swelling in the jawbone.
• Tight or locked jaw
• Bad taste or foul breath
• Teeth crowding: In the long term, an impacted wisdom tooth can push the adjacent teeth out of position, causing misalignments and overcrowding.

Wisdom Tooth Emergency Extraction

Once you visit a dentist, they will inspect your to determine the cause of your symptoms and establish the necessary treatment. If the dentist identifies severe or life-threatening symptoms that could compromise your oral or overall health, you might need an emergency extraction. Below are three signs that can prompt an emergency dentist to extract your wisdom tooth.

• Severe pain

Severe tooth pain is a common reason for emergency dental care. If you experience severe, throbbing, or unbearable pain at the back of the mouth, visit an emergency dentist near you immediately, especially if the pain won’t respond to pain relief medicines. Extracting the tooth may be the best remedy to alleviate pain and prevent further complications.

• Severe inflammation

Severe gum inflammation around a wisdom tooth often indicates an infection. An impacted tooth can expose the gum tissue flap, where food particles and bacteria get trapped to cause an infection. The inflammation can sometimes spread to the jaw, cheek, or face or cause an abscess. An emergency extraction may be necessary to prevent the infection from spreading to other parts of your mouth and body.

• Stiffness around the jaw

A wisdom tooth erupting at the wrong angle can affect your bite, resulting in severe pain or stiffness in and around your jaw. You are likely to experience difficulties chewing or opening your mouth wide. If not addressed promptly, these symptoms can lead to TMJ problems. Thus, emergency wisdom extraction may be necessary to alleviate your symptoms and prevent jaw complications.

Emergency Wisdom Tooth Extraction

In most cases, an emergency wisdom tooth extraction requires surgical intervention. Below are typical steps of what you can expect:

• The surgeon will begin by numbing the area around the tooth to prevent discomfort. You may be under sedation if you have severe anxiety or fear.
• Next, the dentist will make incisions through the gum tissues to access the tooth. If necessary, they can also remove some bone tissues.
• The tooth can break into pieces for easier removal.
• After removing the teeth, the gums are stitched back in place for faster healing.
• The dentist can give you gauze to bite on to control bleeding.

Your dentist or surgeon may prescribe some medications to manage post-extraction side effects like pain, swelling, and infection. Also, you’ll get several aftercare instructions to promote faster recovery and prevent complications. These include:

• Take medication as directed
• Rest. Avoid strenuous activities for at least 24 to 48 hours
• Use cold therapy to manage pain and swelling
• Eat cool and soft foods and beverages. Avoid hard, spicy, hot, cold, crunchy, and acidic items
• Avoid disturbing the extraction site
• Maintain excellent oral hygiene
• Attend all your follow-up appointments
• Avoid tobacco and alcoholic products
• Visit a dentist near you immediately if you experience severe or worsening pain, swelling, bleeding, or fever.

Schedule an Appointment Today.

Are you experiencing severe pain or swelling around the back of your mouth? Contact Neeshat S. Khan, DDS, to book your consultation with our dentist in San Jose, CA.