Dental and Oral Health (Adults)

Mouth pain

05/06/2008 03:17PM

Question:

My wisdom teeth never fully came. X-rays were done and the roots were curled. There is little room but enough per 3 dentists for the wisdom teeth to come in for the wisdom teeth should they come in. Per x-rays they are all straight. I am 26 years old and periodically (meaning approx 2 times a year) I develop a strong pain that appears to center around one of the "impacted" wisdom teeth. This has been going on for over five years. The pain is not unbearable and lasts only a few days at most. It feels like I have a sore throat in that area and I am unable to open my mouth more than half an inch without sharp pain and taughtness. There is plenty of room for the tooth to come in and from what has been exposed it is straight. My question is: I am currently unable to go to a dentist. Does this sort of pain sound indicative of something serious (meaning make the budget for it immediately) or based off my past history is it most likely a temporary issue and thusly okay to wait until I can go to the dentist (which should be in approx 6 months)? Also if the latter is correct, could you recommend a home remedy for the discomfort?

Answer:

From your description, it is very difficult to make a diagnosis. It is possible that you are developing a pericornitis around the impacted wisdom tooth. It usually happens around a lower wisdom tooth and can have the symptoms that you have described. The tooth would have to be erupted to the point that there is no bone covering it. It is only covered by soft tissue. In some cases, this can develop into a very serious infection. Usually, it will resolve itself and recur later on. The only permanent solutions to this are for the tooth to fully erupt or for the tooth to be removed.

If the tooth is going to erupt, it should have done so by now. I would recommend that as soon as this happens again that you have your dentist examine you. This would confirm the pericornitis. Then you would have to decide if you want to continue having this periodic condition. It is not generally dangerous to you unless you develop a serious infection from it.

For more information:

Go to the Dental and Oral Health (Adults) health topic, where you can:

Read articles on this topic
Browse the previously asked questions
Ask your own question.

Response by:

D. Stanley Sharples, DDS
Assistant Professor, Clinical
Section of Primary Care
College of Dentistry
The Ohio State University