I know wisdom teeth can be complicated, especially if they are impacted, but if a dentist who sees emergency patients can help, I think I should go. I’ve had issues on and off with all 4 wisdom teeth, but now pain in the lower teeth is intense. Last month, I started whitening my teeth, and I think that the bleaching gel irritated the gums around my wisdom teeth. I stopped using the gel last week. My gums are swollen, and although I am not chewing on the wisdom teeth, eating is painful. I had plans for a long weekend and wonder if a dentist would see me right away and help or if I needed just to skip that and call an oral surgeon to get the teeth pulled. – Grayson from NY
Grayson,
Thank you for your question.
It is good that you discontinued teeth whitening because the gel can irritate already inflamed gums.
Can a Dentist Who Sees Emergency Patients Help with Wisdom Teeth?
Discontinue teeth whitening on irritated wisdom teeth
A dentist who accepts emergency visits can temporarily relieve or decrease your wisdom teeth pain, but they will not perform surgery during your appointment. Still, seeing a dentist right away is wise. Your pain and swelling are signs of an infection that a dentist must treat.
After relieving your pain, the dentist will x-ray your teeth and determine what treatment you need. Otherwise, the dentist will refer you to an oral surgeon for teeth removal. Some dentists have advanced oral surgery training and experience.
Why Get Wisdom Removed?
You should consider getting wisdom teeth removed when x-rays show they can not erupt entirely and affect your long-term oral health. Wisdom teeth can be complex when they are impacted and will not emerge. Impacted wisdom teeth can become irritated and form a cyst on the jawbone or damage the roots of nearby teeth.
When impacted wisdom teeth push neighboring teeth out of alignment, it creates the need for orthodontic treatment. Partially erupted wisdom teeth also cause pain, swelling, and irritation. They become difficult to clean and can breed bacteria that lead to infection in your gums, bone, and neighboring teeth. A dentist with surgical expertise or an oral surgeon will recommend treatment.
Dr. Duane Delaune, a Metairie, Louisiana cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post.