Painful Wisdom Teeth: The Cause & How They Are Treated

Wisdom teeth can be painful when they become damaged from poor oral health care. The pain is often from an abscess or deep cavity being present in your mouth that can be relieved if you seek dental treatment. In this article, you will find out why wisdom teeth are so painful and what a dentist can do to give you comfort.

Why Are Wisdom Teeth So Painful?

Wisdom teeth are the main ones used for chewing food, which causes plaque to accumulate fast. The plaque contains acid and bacteria that causes the gums to become infected if it is not removed by brushing on a regular basis. Poor brushing habits usually lead to deep cavities or the formation of an abscess on the gums.

Cavities cause pain because they lead to teeth becoming sensitive, and the nerves in the pulp chamber can get exposed when the cavities are deep. An abscess on the gums is painful because of the toxic pus causing a lot of pressure. It is also common for an abscess to develop under a tooth rather than appearing as a lump of the gums. You must seek prompt treatment for cavities and an abscess because toxins from bacteria can inflame your bloodstream.

How Can Wisdom Teeth with Cavities & an Abscess be Treated?

If you only have a cavity in a painful wisdom tooth, a dentist may give you antibiotics to get rid of an infection. He or she will then proceed to fill in the cavity by using dental putty. Filling in the cavity should cover up the exposed nerves and give you pain relief.

When there is an abscess responsible for the pain in a wisdom tooth, a dentist must treat the condition by performing a root canal. A root canal will require that a hole is drilled into the wisdom tooth with a dental drill. The hole is necessary so the dentist can access the pulp chamber where the nerves and blood vessels are contained to remove the damaged pulp. The hole is then filled with dental putty and you will be prescribed antibiotics.

It is also possible to get a painful wisdom tooth extracted. The best thing about extracting a wisdom tooth is that you won't have to worry about it interfering with your smile.

You can expect to be sedated before a root canal is performed, and even if you are only getting a cavity filled. The method of sedation will depend on the complexity of the procedure. Make an appointment with a dentist, such as Sundance Dental Care, so you can stop dealing with the pain of your wisdom tooth!