Infections due to Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Features:
- pain on lower jaw, usually around last molar teeth
- pain can be acute and mouth opening may be limited
- possible swelling
- lymph nodes in the neck may swell
- touching the region around the molar can be painful
Causes:
- impaction of wisdom tooth causing food to be trapped
- infection of overlying gum
- triangular gaps between teeth
- decay of wisdom tooth and adjacent tooth
Management:
- cleansing of the gum area with gargle or mouthwash
- antibiotic may be required for serious infection
- extraction or trimming of the opposing tooth to reduce biting on the swollen gum
- surgical removal of the upper wisdom tooth