Common Signs of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Your third molars — better known as “wisdom teeth” — are usually fully developed by the time you reach the age of 30. Their development is most noticeable during adolescence and the teen years. Even if you never feel them coming in, they’re visible on regular dental X-rays from quite a young age. 

Unfortunately, many people lack adequate space in their mouth for wisdom teeth to come in all the way. As a result, they become impacted — either fully, or partially. 

While an impacted tooth is obvious on a dental X-ray, there are other signs that you can watch out for at home:

Pain 

Remember the teething discomfort an infant experienced when their teeth first came in? As a tooth erupts, it pushes into the tissues next to it. Impacted wisdom teeth may cause pain that comes and goes. It can feel dull, sharp, or more like pressure inside of your jaw. 

Swelling or Inflammation

Redness around your gums or swelling in the side of your mouth is a good indicator that a wisdom tooth is trying to erupt. At times, cysts around the developing molar can become infected and lead to inflammation. 

Crowded Teeth

Impacted wisdom teeth are often slanted at an angle, pressing against their neighbours. The forces they place on the teeth can cause them to be displaced. Gradually, crowding and tooth movement across your mouth become evident. It’s most noticeable at the front of your smile, because there is nowhere else for those teeth to go. If you’ve had braces, impacted wisdom teeth may cause complete relapse and require re-treatment. 

See Our Wantrina South Dentists

If you suspect that you or your teen has an impacted wisdom tooth, request an exam at Studfield Dental Group. A quick X-ray is usually all that’s necessary for us to give you the answers you need. Call today!