The pain caused by impacted wisdom teeth is one of few oral health problems that can severely disrupt your day-to-day life. Luckily, impacted wisdom teeth can be detected early on using a panelipse x-ray and can be identified by your dentist before they begin causing you pain. If impacted wisdom teeth aren’t taken care of, several symptoms will occur as the condition worsens.
Throbbing pain in the back of the mouth:
Wisdom teeth cause severe pain when impacted, especially as they are left untreated. The pain generally starts at the back of the mouth and around the area of the wisdom teeth. The pain may start to spread to the surrounding teeth as the infection grows.

Swelling around the jaw:
Impacted wisdom teeth usually cause swelling in both the gums and jaw. It may start out as a subtle swelling, but can worsen so quickly and make it difficult to open the mouth.

Swollen, tender, and bleeding gums:
Gum issues are another consequence of untreated impacted wisdom teeth. Gums may swell and be tender to the touch. They may bleed when pressure is applied, especially when flossing. Swollen gums may also be a sign of gum disease, so if you experience this symptom, it’s best to check with your dentist right away.

Swollen glands in the neck or shoulders:
Swollen glands in the shoulders or neck are a tell-tale sign of impacted wisdom teeth, especially if you are experiencing other symptoms.

Headaches:
Headaches of the temporomandibular joint, which connects the skull and jaw, are common with impacted wisdom teeth. The pain may spread to other areas of the face if left untreated.
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth, it is best to call Pine Tree Dental right away. As the condition of your impacted wisdom teeth worsens, other severe symptoms can occur such as:

• Damage or realignment of teeth (impacted wisdom teeth can push adjacent teeth and cause infections.)
• Gum Disease (impacted teeth are prone to infection and decay. Since flossing is difficult and painful with impacted teeth, food can become trapped and disease can spread.)
• Cysts (wisdom teeth can grow in a sac, located in the interior of the jaw. These sacs may fill with fluid and lead to cysts that cause nerve damage and pain.)

Pine Tree Dental wants to hear from you! If you are experiencing any of the above signs of impacted wisdom teeth, give us a call immediately. We are here to help.