A wisdom tooth can cause a dental abscess, which is a significant health concern requiring immediate attention. An abscess is a localized collection of pus, a thick fluid composed of dead white blood cells, tissue debris, and bacteria, that forms as the body attempts to fight a bacterial infection. The wisdom tooth, or third molar, is the last tooth to emerge, typically appearing between the ages of 17 and 25. This painful pocket of infection can develop in the gum tissue, the bone of the jaw, or inside the tooth itself.
How Wisdom Teeth Lead to Abscesses
The primary reason wisdom teeth are frequently involved in abscess formation is their position and difficulty in erupting properly. When a wisdom tooth cannot fully emerge due to a lack of space, it becomes impacted, meaning it is trapped beneath the gum tissue or jawbone. This partial eruption creates a flap of gum tissue, known as an operculum, over the tooth.
The space beneath this gum flap is extremely difficult to clean with a toothbrush or floss, making it an ideal environment for bacteria and food particles to accumulate. This leads to a localized infection and inflammation of the surrounding gum tissue, a condition called pericoronitis. If the initial infection is not resolved, the bacterial load increases, and the body’s immune response escalates. The pressure from this accumulating pus causes intense, throbbing pain and can spread to the jawbone or surrounding tissues.
Identifying the Symptoms of a Dental Abscess
The most telling symptom is a severe, persistent, and throbbing pain near the back of the jaw that does not subside with over-the-counter pain medication. This intense discomfort is caused by the increasing pressure exerted by the expanding pocket of pus. This pain frequently radiates outward, often traveling to the ear, the neck, or along the jawline.
You will likely notice visible swelling, which can make the gum tissue around the affected tooth look puffy, red, and tender to the touch. The swelling may extend to the cheek or the side of the face. A foul or lingering unpleasant taste in the mouth, accompanied by persistent bad breath, can signal that the abscess has begun to drain, releasing pus into the oral cavity.
The infection can also cause systemic symptoms as the body fights the bacteria. These include a low-grade fever, swollen lymph nodes under the jaw, and a general feeling of being unwell. In more advanced cases, the swelling can cause stiffness in the jaw muscles, making it difficult or painful to open your mouth wide, a symptom known as trismus.
Necessary Treatment and Intervention
An abscess is a serious infection that will not resolve on its own, meaning immediate consultation with a dental professional is necessary. The initial phase of treatment focuses on managing the acute infection and relieving the severe pain. This involves draining the abscess to release the built-up pressure and pus.
The dentist performs an incision and drainage procedure, where a small cut is made into the abscess to allow the pus to escape, often followed by flushing the area with a sterile saline solution. In conjunction with drainage, a course of antibiotics is prescribed to ensure the infection is fully eliminated and to prevent it from spreading further into the jaw or bloodstream.
While drainage and antibiotics treat the immediate infection, they do not resolve the underlying cause, which is often the poorly positioned wisdom tooth. If the tooth is impacted or continually causes pericoronitis, its removal is usually the recommended long-term solution to prevent the abscess from recurring. Extraction eliminates the source of the trapped bacteria and the gum flap that created the infection-prone environment. Neglecting an abscess can have serious consequences, as the infection can spread to the jawbone, deep neck spaces, or lead to a life-threatening systemic infection like sepsis.