Wisdom tooth pain and what London dentists can do about it
Wisdom tooth pain is one of the most common complaints that dentists have to deal with. Not all adults develop wisdom teeth and not all adults with wisdom teeth will develop problems. However, if you are one of the unlucky few who have suffered wisdom tooth pain you will know that the symptoms can affect your ability to eat, sleep and even work. Medication can help to alleviate the pain, but the only long-term way to deal with the problem effectively is to consult with your dentist.
The main problem with wisdom teeth is that sometimes they don’t completely push their way through the gum line or they come through sideways. This is called impaction and is the most common and painful problem in relation to wisdom teeth. Previously the only way to treat impacted wisdom teeth was to remove them and, in many cases, this is still the most effective procedure. While the treatment itself is unpleasant and can be painful afterwards, it is still much less painful than trying to struggle on with impacted wisdom teeth.
The removal will be carried out using local anaesthetic, unless there is a special reason that the patient needs to be asleep or sedated. Removing a wisdom tooth is very similar to removing any other tooth. The only difference is that because the wisdom teeth are tucked right at the back of your mouth, the dentist may need to pull your mouth and jaw around a bit more than usual. This is the cause of one of the common symptoms among those who have had their wisdom teeth removed, which includes swollen and painful cheeks, mouth and gums.
The patient should rest up after the procedure, take over-the-counter painkillers and use a cold towel pressed to the face to reduce swelling.
Posted in: General dentistry
Tags: impacted wisdom tooth, tooth pain, wisdom tooth, wisdom tooth pain
| January 10, 2012 at 8:03 am | No comment
