Synonyms
Dens serotinus, Dens sapiens
Introduction
Wisdom teeth have a variety of shapes and root systems, they can have up to five cusps and several roots, some of which are fused together. Pain in the wisdom tooth can be caused by various reasons, which will be discussed below. If wisdom teeth have already broken through, oral hygiene is often difficult because of their deep location. Crowned wisdom teeth are therefore not uncommon.
Causes – An overview
These causes can lead to pain in the wisdom tooth:
- Breakthrough of the wisdom teeth
- Inflammation of the wisdom tooth
- Caries
- Gum inflammation in the area of the wisdom tooth
- Wrong position in the jaw
- Displacement of the teeth due to lack of space
The eruption of a wisdom tooth in the upper jaw is usually without problems and pain, but in the lower jaw it can often be difficult to erupt. This is mainly due to the fact that they are placed at the end of the jaw, in the area of the lower jaw angle, and in many people there is no room for another tooth at all. In the course of this problem it can happen that a wisdom tooth can either only partially (partial retention) or not at all (complete retention) emerge from the bony jaw.
In some cases, the eruption of a wisdom tooth leads to the displacement of the remaining teeth, which is mainly perceived as an aesthetic problem but usually causes pain. However, it is still not completely clear whether the displacement of the teeth is really caused by the wisdom tooth or whether there are other causes for this phenomenon. The fact that symptomless wisdom teeth are removed purely as a precautionary measure in many patients who have a very small jaw is therefore mainly based on speculation or potential pain caused by the wisdom tooth.
Teeth that do not come out of the jaw at all due to lack of space usually do not cause any problems, they do not cause pain and/or inflammation and can often remain in place. A partially erupted wisdom tooth, however, can cause serious problems and corresponding pain. If the wisdom tooth is inflamed or in the process of erupting, the surrounding gums can be affected and provide information about the health status of the wisdom tooth.
The most common gum reaction is inflammation and swelling in the area of the wisdom tooth. Furthermore, tooth sacs can develop. A dental sac is imagined as a covering of the crown of the tooth, which is a normal condition during the development of the tooth.
Later on, important parts of the tooth (e.g. cement) are formed from it. If the wisdom tooth has not yet broken through completely, but only partially, one can usually see gum pockets in which bacteria accumulate, attack the tooth and cause inflammation. The probing depth is increased.
This is measured with a special periodontal probe, which has a black band for marking and is equipped with a small ball in the front. The inflamed area can be easily identified by moving the tongue or a finger carefully over the area where the tooth is growing. If you look in the mirror, you can see that the gums are reddened at this spot.
If these signs appear, you should see a dentist. If there is pain in the jaw, this can have many different causes. An exact localization of the cause is often difficult and requires a certain skill on the part of the dentist.
In addition to tooth removal, periodontosis or jaw joint problems, a wisdom tooth that has broken through can also cause this type of pain. The pain caused by the eruption of the teeth can sometimes radiate diffusely into the surrounding tissue. In the worst case, the pain can even lead to a jaw clench. This means that the mouth can no longer be opened properly. In this case, the dentist should be consulted immediately in order to initiate a therapy.
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