Kumho-dong Dental Clinic: Why Wisdom Teeth Cause Swollen Gums (Pericoronitis Around Impacted Wisdom Teeth)

Hello.

This is Dr. Kim Tae-young from Yaksu Station Dental Clinic / Bareunyoung Dental Clinic.^^

When you visit the dental clinic, you will have an X-ray taken.

X-rays can easily reveal the condition of teeth that are not visible to the naked eye,

as well as the presence or absence of impacted wisdom teeth.

Occasionally, patients come in complaining of discomfort due to swollen gums around their wisdom teeth.

The area around wisdom teeth tends to swell easily,

and once it starts to swell, the pain intensifies.

My gums are swollen, I think it's because of my wisdom tooth.

This patient had four wisdom teeth,

the two lower wisdom teeth were fully impacted,

but the wisdom tooth on the left had a small part of its crown slightly erupted.

With the gum in that area swollen,

brushing became more difficult,

and the swollen gum was constantly pressed by the upper wisdom tooth, causing pain.

Do you see the small tooth crown that has emerged at the very back?

Normally, there might not have been any problems,

but accidentally, food debris got stuck in that gap,

and when the gum swells, through that widened gap,

infection occurs, causing pain.

As you can see, it's not easy to meticulously brush that area regularly.

First, the patient took medication to alleviate the symptoms, and then we proceeded with extraction.

Since the tooth was completely impacted and the patient couldn't open their mouth wide,

securing a clear view was challenging,

but both the upper and lower wisdom teeth were successfully extracted.

The initial healing was also good,

and after a long time, the patient came for a regular check-up, so we took an X-ray.

You can see that the area around the extraction site has healed cleanly.

In cases where the wisdom tooth is lying down and attached to the adjacent tooth like this,

the root of the adjacent tooth might be exposed after wisdom tooth extraction,

so if gum healing is slow, the exposed area might be sensitive.

This patient had few symptoms,

and I remember that the initial gum healing was good due to effective hemostasis and compression during the extraction.

For wisdom teeth where only a part of the crown is exposed,

the surrounding gum can frequently swell,

so it's very important to meticulously brush that area when brushing your teeth

to prevent pericoronitis.^^

Thank you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main reason for swollen gums due to wisdom teeth?

The main reason for swollen gums around wisdom teeth is that food debris gets trapped in the gap of a partially erupted wisdom tooth, leading to infection. This area is difficult to brush, making it prone to inflammation.

What symptoms appear when the gums around an impacted wisdom tooth swell?

When the gums around an impacted wisdom tooth swell, the pain intensifies, brushing becomes difficult, and the swollen gum can be pressed by other teeth, causing discomfort. In severe cases, infection can lead to significant pain.

How is treatment performed when the gums around a wisdom tooth are swollen?

Typically, when gums are swollen, medication is first administered to alleviate symptoms, followed by consideration of extraction. Extraction may vary depending on the degree of impaction, and good management of the initial healing state after extraction is important.

Are there any precautions to take after wisdom tooth extraction?

Yes, after wisdom tooth extraction, the root of the adjacent tooth may be exposed and sensitive, so gum healing is crucial. Effective hemostasis and compression during the extraction can aid in initial gum healing.

How can I prevent the gums around my wisdom tooth from swelling?

To prevent the gums around your wisdom tooth from swelling, it is especially important to meticulously brush the area around a partially exposed wisdom tooth. This greatly helps in preventing pericoronitis.