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