Wisdom Tooth Pain Causes Home Remedies And Medical Treatments

  references
  
      Oral Health Foundation: "Wisdom teeth"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Impacted wisdom teeth"

Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911.

Wisdom tooth pain is common, but home remedies can sometimes help.

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Causes
Pain From Wisdom Teeth
Pain After Removal
When to See a Dentist

Given the pain wisdom teeth can cause, it may seem natural to want them out of your mouth, ASAP. But that’s not necessarily the best path — or necessary. “Each situation is different and should be evaluated individually,” says oral and maxillofacial surgeon Anthony Cuomo, DDS, incoming Vice President for the New York State Dental Association, who practices at Northeast Implant & Oral Surgery. Expect your dentist to take a medical and dental history along with X-rays, he says. Your age is also a factor: “The older the patient is, the more difficult the surgery may be,” Dr. Cuomo says. Bottom line: “Not all wisdom teeth need to be extracted,” Dr. Moyer says. If there’s space for them to erupt, and it’s doable to keep them clean, they can stay put, he says.

“Each situation is different and should be evaluated individually,” says oral and maxillofacial surgeon Anthony Cuomo, DDS, incoming Vice President for the New York State Dental Association, who practices at Northeast Implant & Oral Surgery.

Expect your dentist to take a medical and dental history along with X-rays, he says. Your age is also a factor: “The older the patient is, the more difficult the surgery may be,” Dr. Cuomo says.

Bottom line: “Not all wisdom teeth need to be extracted,” Dr. Moyer says. If there’s space for them to erupt, and it’s doable to keep them clean, they can stay put, he says.

Applying ice can help stop wisdom tooth pain temporarily.

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Around 76.5 million adults in the United States do not have dental insurance, according to a 2021 report from CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. If you’re part of that large group, you might be feeling hopeless at the thought of dental surgery. But you may be covered through your health insurance, if you have that, Dr. Moyer says. (Explore tips for finding affordable health care.) “Not a lot of people realize that if wisdom teeth are impacted, typically the removal of [the] wisdom teeth is covered under your medical insurance, not your dental insurance,” Dr. Moyer says. Oral surgery is a specialty involving both dental and medical knowledge, he says, noting that he went to both dental and medical school, as is true for many oral surgeons.

But you may be covered through your health insurance, if you have that, Dr. Moyer says. (Explore tips for finding affordable health care.)

“Not a lot of people realize that if wisdom teeth are impacted, typically the removal of [the] wisdom teeth is covered under your medical insurance, not your dental insurance,” Dr. Moyer says. Oral surgery is a specialty involving both dental and medical knowledge, he says, noting that he went to both dental and medical school, as is true for many oral surgeons.

Stick with liquids and soft foods to help manage wisdom tooth pain after extraction.

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      Oral Health Foundation: "Wisdom teeth"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Impacted wisdom teeth"