Your third molars are your wisdom teeth. These teeth appear between 14 and 30 years old. Your mouth is not big enough to have two third molars on the upper jaw and another two on the lower jaw. This results in third molars growing in incorrect positions. Infection is a common outcome of wisdom teeth. If you want to know more about infected wisdom teeth, here are the details.
Infection can develop in the third molars and the tissue surrounding them. Wisdom teeth can emerge only at the crown or grow at the wrong angles while still embedded in the gum tissue. Overcrowding also happens. These conditions lead to the lodging of food particles around the third molars. Plaque and tartar develop, making it vulnerable to infection. This condition is pericoronitis — the inflammation and infection of impacted wisdom teeth.
Cavities in third molars can also cause infections. These teeth are difficult to floss and brush. The lack of thorough cleaning makes third molars prone to cavities. Extraction of third molars can cause infections as well. Without proper aftercare, an infection can develop at the extraction site.
Patients with third molar infection complain about pain in the jaw, side of the face, or around the tooth itself. There are also difficulties in chewing and opening the mouth. Bad breath, fever, swelling in the lymph glands, and white-yellow discharge from the extraction site. Any number of these symptoms need an immediate dental appointment.
Without proper treatment, wisdom teeth infection will develop complications. Fluid-filled sacs can form near the third molars. These cysts can result from wisdom teeth infection or impaction. If they do not receive treatment, these cysts will affect the roots of the neighboring teeth. These growths may also weaken or damage the jawbone.
Severe third molar infection can make its way to the upper respiratory tract, mouth, and jaw. In some rare cases, an infection can spread to the patient’s bloodstream. This is called sepsis. If this is the case, dentists remove the infected wisdom teeth at the first sign of infection. Doing so prevents recurrent dental infections.
Treatments for infected wisdom teeth depend on the severity and cause of the infection. The dentist will perform a deep cleansing of the area and the surrounding teeth and gums. Then, the dentist will ask the patient to gargle with an antiseptic mouthwash. Targeting the infection needs a prescription of antibiotics. This will stop the source of infection and prevent it from coming back. The dentist will recommend the extraction of the wisdom teeth to prevent future infections and damage.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Wisdom Teeth Extraction in Mountain View, CA
Wisdom teeth can cause many issues. The overcrowding and incorrect growth can lead to infections and complications. You should see your dentist right away if the symptoms of third molar infection last beyond three or four days. An appointment with your dentist can deal with the wisdom teeth infection right away.
Request an appointment or call Smiles Dental Care at 650-563-1180 for an appointment in our Mountain View office.
Wisdom teeth cannot fit in the mouth. Four of your adult teeth are wisdom teeth. These teeth erupt after the second molars are already set in the back of the mouth. Because of this, wisdom teeth do not erupt the right way. Some of them cannot even break through the gums. If you want to…
Dentists regularly field questions about wisdom teeth from patients and young patients’ parents. If you are approaching the age when extracting these teeth is common, you may be curious as well. There are a lot of reasons why dental professionals recommend removing these molars. As you understand more about these teeth, you may realize why…
If you have wisdom teeth coming in, it may be a good idea to talk to your dentist. Removing these teeth might be the right option so that you can avoid pain and discomfort. There often is not enough space for these teeth to grow in properly. This creates a host of concerns and health…
Cosmetic dental services might be what you need to improve how your teeth look. These are dental treatments that focus primarily on addressing aesthetic issues that ruin the appearance of teeth, like discoloration, poorly spaced teeth, or damaged teeth. There are typically multiple cosmetic dental services that can be used to address any given problem,…
A cracked tooth that goes untreated for an extended amount of time can lead to severe complications. Continue reading to learn about the risks of leaving cracked teeth untreated. Dentists generally recommend having a cracked tooth repaired as soon as conveniently possible, and it may become an emergency situation if the symptoms worsen or lead…