Signs of Impacted Wisdom Teeth: Causes and Treatment

Wisdom teeth (also known as third molars or tooth number 8) are the last teeth to erupt in the dental arch. They typically begin to emerge from the age of 16 onward. Wisdom teeth often appear after the jawbone has stopped developing.

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth (also known as third molars or tooth number 8) are the last teeth to emerge in the dental arch. They usually begin to erupt from the age of 16 onward. Since they typically appear after the jawbone has stopped developing, wisdom teeth can become trapped beneath the gum tissue by adjacent teeth or the jawbone, leading to misalignment or impaction.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth:

An impacted third molar occurs when the wisdom tooth is covered by gum tissue and remains deep within the jawbone beneath the gums, unable to erupt like other teeth. This condition may be caused by a lack of space in the dental arch, overly dense bone, or thick gum tissue that hinders eruption. Impacted wisdom teeth can occur in both the upper and lower jaws, though they are more commonly found in the lower jaw.

Signs of Wisdom Tooth Eruption:

• Pain around the gums:

As the wisdom tooth begins to emerge, patients often feel a dull ache from within. The more the tooth erupts, the more intense and prolonged the pain becomes.

Initially, the discomfort is localized around the gums where the tooth is emerging. In cases of misalignment, the pain may extend to adjacent molars and surrounding areas.

• Swollen gums:

During wisdom tooth eruption, patients may feel heaviness in the jaw and difficulty moving their mouth, which affects eating and speaking. In severe cases, even swallowing saliva becomes painful, and the jaw may become difficult to open.

• Headache and possible fever:

Mild fever is a common symptom during wisdom tooth eruption. The pain and swelling are usually the causes of the fever. However, once the tooth stabilizes, the fever typically subsides quickly.

• Loss of appetite:

Pain and fatigue can cause patients to lose interest in eating or make it difficult to chew. Additionally, when food comes into contact with the swollen gums, it can trigger sharp pain, leading to reluctance to eat.

Causes of Impacted Wisdom Teeth:

• Disproportion between tooth size and jawbone: Wisdom teeth are often larger than the available space in the jaw, resulting in insufficient room for proper eruption.
• Last to erupt in the dental arch: As the final teeth to come in, wisdom teeth often lack space due to earlier erupting teeth occupying available room
• Late eruption age (18–25 years): By the time wisdom teeth emerge, the jawbone has stopped growing and becomes denser, making it more difficult for the tooth to break through.
• Thick and firm oral mucosa:
• Reduced jaw development from softer diets: With the modern diet increasingly consisting of soft, processed foods, the jawbone is less stimulated and less developed, leading to limited space for wisdom teeth.

Common Complications from Wisdom Tooth Eruption:

• Pericoronitis and cellulitis: When wisdom teeth grow misaligned, food often gets trapped in the area, which is hard to clean properly. This leads to infection, redness, and pain around the tooth. In severe cases, pus-filled abscesses may form, potentially causing lockjaw (restricted mouth opening).
• Prolonged infection: Ongoing inflammation can result in the destruction of surrounding bone and damage to adjacent teeth. In severe cases, it may lead to jawbone infection (osteomyelitis) or even sepsis.
• Decay teeth in neighboring teeth: Lower wisdom teeth commonly grow at an angle, pressing against the adjacent second molars. This contact area is difficult to clean and prone to decay. The second molar plays a crucial role in chewing, so decay in this tooth can significantly affect oral function.

Dental follicular cyst (tooth cyst): Impacted wisdom teeth embedded in the jawbone can silently develop cysts around the crown. If left untreated, these cysts gradually erode the jawbone, increasing the risk of jaw fractures.

• Teeth crowding: Misaligned wisdom teeth may push against neighboring teeth, leading to crowding of the front teeth.
• Trismus (lockjaw): Often associated with infection, this condition occurs after acute inflammation, causing swelling in the jaw angle area. It leads to difficulty in opening or closing the mouth, painful jaw movement, and trouble chewing.

Cases Where Wisdom Teeth Should Be Extracted:

• Misaligned or Impacted Wisdom Teeth Can Cause Infection, Pain, Jaw Tightness, Swelling, and Affect Adjacent Teeth.
• Misaligned wisdom teeth can make chewing difficult.
• Even if a wisdom tooth grows straight and has enough space, the absence of an opposing tooth can cause food impaction, leading to gum irritation and ulcers on the opposing jaw.
• Even if a wisdom tooth grows straight, has enough space, and is not obstructed, an abnormal shape can still increase the risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease.
• Extraction may also be necessary for orthodontic or prosthodontic treatment purposes.

Why Choose Wisdom Tooth Extraction at Herident Dental Clinic:

• Modern Equipment and Technology

In many wisdom tooth extraction cases, accurate imaging and thorough examination are crucial to assess the complexity of the tooth roots and detect complications that are not visible to the naked eye. At Herident Dental Clinic, patients will undergo detailed imaging for precise diagnosis and treatment planning.

• Highly Skilled Dental Team

100% of treatments are performed by dentists who graduated from the Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology at Hanoi Medical University. Many of them hold master's degrees and have completed hospital residency training, ensuring that patients at Herident receive expert care with full responsibility and professionalism from our Dentists team.

• Modern, 5-Star Facilities

At Herident, patients are treated in private dental rooms or fully separated VIP suites, offering privacy and a more relaxing, comfortable experience. All instrument trays are strictly sterilized and securely packaged in accordance with Ministry of Health regulations. Herident also offers attentive, thoughtful customer care and fair pricing policies.