Signs & Symptoms of an Impacted Tooth

Found at the very back on both sides on the top and bottom of your mouth, the wisdom teeth are the third set of morals in the human mouth. The Mayo Clinic reports that people typically develop wisdom teeth between the ages of 17 and 25; however, in many cases, there is not enough room in the mouth for the wisdom teeth to emerge.

Identification

If there is not enough room for them, wisdom teeth become impacted or trapped in the jaw. Any number of wisdom teeth can be impacted in a person's mouth.

Common Symptoms

Pain or tenderness around the gums--as well as red or swollen gums--are the most common symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth, followed by jaw pain and swelling.

Other Symptoms

Bad breath and an unpleasant taste when biting in the area of the impacted tooth are other symptoms. Impacted wisdom teeth also lead to headaches.

Significance

If the symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth remain untreated, they often exert pressure on the other teeth, causing gum disease, crowding of teeth and the formation of cysts on the gum line.

Significance

Since symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth develop gradually over time, a dentist may spot the condition on a diagnostic X-ray before the patient experiences any signs.

References

• Mayo Clinic