So you are experiencing pain in the back of your mouth or something just doesn’t feel right? You may need to get an emergency wisdom teeth extraction.

Wisdom teeth are located at the back of the mouth. They are the last set of teeth to appear, usually in your late adolescence or early twenties. They are also referred to as the back or third molars.

Impacted wisdom teeth are either horizontally or angled. As a result, they arrive misaligned. They may press on neighboring teeth or their roots, causing pain or tooth shifting.

Below is an example of what can happen if you leave your wisdom teeth in when they need to come out. 

 

Warning Signs of a Potentially Impacted Tooth

Impacted wisdom teeth can cause a variety of painful symptoms, including:

  • Gums that are swollen and painful
  • Toothaches
  • Sensitivity of the teeth
  • Teeth shifting
  • Jaw pain
  • Headaches
  • Infections

Wisdom teeth are not visible until they begin to erupt. As a result, annual x-rays are an essential component of your teen’s dental check-ups. They enable your dentist to monitor the eruption of your wisdom teeth.

Pericoronitis is a dental condition brought on by partially erupted wisdom teeth. When gum tissue covers a portion of a tooth, it traps food and plaque debris. It causes severe pain and inflammation, and it may require antibiotics and an extraction to heal.

Do I Have to Have My Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Not everyone requires wisdom tooth extraction. If your jawbone has enough room for them and they are coming in straight, you may not need to have them extracted. In many cases, however, wisdom tooth eruption can be painful and cause damage to your adult teeth.

If this is the case, you will need oral surgery to extract your wisdom teeth. Your dentist should be able to tell you whether or not you will have problems with your wisdom teeth based on a panoramic or 3D X-ray taken during your adolescence.

If you do not have impacted wisdom teeth removed, you may experience long-term consequences such as:

  • Tooth damage can occur if wisdom teeth push against another tooth, resulting in a cracked tooth.
  • You’re more vulnerable if you’ve had a root canal or a large filling.
  • Tooth decay commonly happen to wisdom teeth because of difficulty to clean, especially if only partially erupted. They form small crevices that are difficult to clean with floss or a toothbrush.
  • Misalignment of neigbouring teeth due to pushing of the wisdom teeth can lead to teeth crowding over time. This can jeopardise or necessitate additional orthodontic treatment, such as braces or clear aligners.
  • Infection is a common complication because impacted wisdom teeth are difficult to clean.
  • Gum disease may also result from impacted wisdom teeth.
  • Cysts can be developed around the tooth’s crown, leading to dental problems in the adjacent teeth and bone.

What to Expect in the Event of a Tooth Extraction Emergency

If you have any of the symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth, you should seek emergency dental care right away. If you have impacted teeth, your oral surgeon will need to perform a surgical extraction rather than a simple extraction.

While methods and procedures may differ slightly depending on the practitioner, here’s what to expect when you arrive at the dental office for a wisdom teeth emergency extraction:

The doctor will use a local anaesthetic to numb the area around your tooth. The entire area surrounding the tooth will be completely numb in a matter of minutes.

Sedation or “putting you under” may be used if you have anxiety or dentophobia (fear of the dentist). An IV, an inhalant, or a pill could be used.

The dentist will then widen the tooth socket with an elevator and forceps by applying pressure to the tooth from multiple angles.

They will then use forceps to grasp the tooth and rock it back and forth.

They may also rotate the tooth to help it loosen from the ligaments.

The doctor may use one or two stitches to close the wound.

Depending on your condition, you may be placed in a recovery room, given pain medication, and informed about proper aftercare.

Aftercare for Wisdom Tooth Extraction in an Emergency

After the procedure, you will gradually regain feeling due to the anaesthetic. This is the most painful part of the experience, but it is easily managed with over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers. You may also be given antibiotics to prevent infection. It is normal to experience pain, swelling, and bleeding from your wounds in the days that follow. Pain is usually mild to moderate, and only in rare cases is it severe. Blood clots may become agitated or rupture at the extraction site. These symptoms last three to four days on average, but can last up to a week. If they last more than a week, you should see your dentist right away. Warm salt water rinses and ice packs on your jaw are simple and effective ways to help manage pain after wisdom tooth extractions. While you are recovering, you must avoid spitting, drinking through a straw, and smoking. Any activity that requires you to suck may result in a dry socket, a painful oral health condition in which the blood clots dissolve and expose the bone beneath your wound. In the days following the extraction, you should also eat soft foods like smoothies, yoghurt, applesauce, cottage cheese, or pudding. Extremely hot or cold foods and liquids should also be avoided.

Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost: Common Questions & Answers

How much does it cost to have 4 wisdom teeth removed?

Removing all four wisdom teeth at once can cost anywhere between $300 and $2500. The cost depends on whether you have insurance or not and the type of extraction needed. A simple extraction is less expensive than an impacted extraction.

Should I get 2 or 4 wisdom teeth removed?

Even if you only have one or two problematic wisdom teeth, your dentist or oral surgeon will likely recommend removing all four wisdom teeth.

Can you get a wisdom tooth pulled without insurance?

Yes. You can get a wisdom tooth pulled without insurance, but it will be more expensive.