15 Dec Is my tooth pain from an impacted wisdom tooth or a tooth abscess?
Pain at the rear of the mouth can be caused by a number of issues, such as impacted wisdom teeth or a tooth abscess, which will need appropriate treatment for the patient to get symptom relief.
If you develop pain at the rear of your jaw, it’s important to consult with a dentist or oral surgeon, who can diagnose the specific problem and recommend treatment. It’s virtually impossible for a patient to self-diagnose in such cases. In fact, the surgeon will typically need to take an x-ray to determine the nature of the problem.
Impacted teeth can be problematic in a number of ways that can lead to pain. They may continue to attempt to erupt, which will cause discomfort. They also tend to attract bacteria, which can cause large cavities or a serious infection known as an abscess. In the case of the latter, the bacteria can easily access the bloodstream from the mouth, giving them the potential opportunity to spread throughout the body.
When problems develop in impacted teeth, a surgical procedure is usually necessary to remove them. The surgeon often has to remove surrounding bone in order to extract the entire tooth. The procedure is typically performed in an outpatient setting, such as an oral surgeon’s office.
You don’t necessarily have to wait for pain to develop before having your wisdom teeth removed, though. Many patients choose to have impacted wisdom teeth removed before they become symptomatic. The wisdom teeth no longer serve much function for modern humans, so they are rather expendable.
Furthermore, patients who do choose wisdom tooth extraction are advised to do so before age 25, as the process is more straightforward and the recovery time shorter in younger patients.
Pain at the rear of the jaw can be the result of serious oral health problems that are likely to get worse without treatment. If you have been experiencing this symptom, schedule a consultation with Dr. Carlos Ibanez to get a diagnosis and learn more about your options for treatment. Call 434-295-0911 today to schedule your visit.