Impacted wisdom teeth can be sore and painful, or you might not notice them at all. But even if they do not cause you any immediate discomfort, they could raise your risk of future gum disease or tooth decay.
In this article we’ll explain what impacted wisdom teeth are, how to notice the signs and symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth, and why you should consult a dentist if you have adult teeth beneath your gums.
What are impacted wisdom teeth?
A full set of adult teeth should add to 32 in total – eight on each side at the top, and eight on each side at the bottom. You can usually count them quite easily using the tip of your tongue, or by looking in a mirror.
Remember, your baby teeth or ‘milk teeth’ usually total only 20. When they fall out naturally and your adult teeth grow in, this usually increases to 28 for a few years, with the last four – your wisdom teeth – emerging from your gums aged 18-21.
If you are in your mid-20s or later, you haven’t lost any adult teeth, and you still have fewer than 32 in total, you may be suffering from impacted wisdom teeth, which is when the last tooth at the top-left, top-right, bottom-left or bottom-right fails to push through the gum.
The signs and symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth
If an impacted wisdom tooth is hurting, you may feel it as a dull ache or tenderness in your gums and it can also lead to bleeding or swelling. You may even feel sinus pain or headaches due to the additional pressure of the impacted wisdom tooth in your jaw, alongside having an unpleasant taste in your mouth as well as finding it difficult to open when eating or speaking.
Should I worry about impacted wisdom teeth?
Even if you don’t feel any pain, it’s worth getting impacted wisdom teeth checked by a dentist. Because they stay hidden in your gum, it’s harder to clean them. This allows bacteria to build up and can increase your risk of infection.
So whether it’s for comfort and pain relief, or to prevent a future problem with tooth decay, gum disease or an infected jaw, you should always consult a dental professional about impacted wisdom teeth.
Contact Ten Dental today
Ten Dental + Facial offer routine general dentistry for impacted wisdom teeth, as well as emergency dentistry for infected wisdom teeth and severe pain – we can usually treat dental emergencies within 24 hours.
Find out more or book a treatment today. You can call us on 0207 622 7610 or direct to your local Ten Dental Clinic, or email hello@tendental.com and we’ll reply as soon as we can.