Emergencies

Erupting or Impacted Wisdom Teeth

As your child's wisdom teeth start to erupt, or are partially or fully impacted, they may experience symptoms such as:

• Pain or swelling in the cheeks, jaws, or gums.
• Difficulty chewing (especially in the back teeth).
• In some cases, fever, jaw pain, or bleeding from around the wisdom teeth.

Pain associated with wisdom teeth is one of the most common reasons people visit an emergency department or urgent care facility. While uncomfortable, these symptoms usually do not require urgent or emergency medical care. However, some symptoms may indicate an infection, and should be evaluated by a dentist as soon as possible.

What to do

• Contact your child's dentist for an evaluation.
• Ask your dentist about pain management strategies, antibiotics, or an antiseptic rinse that may be appropriate.

Author: Symbyos staff, Fluent staff
Last updated: 6/7/2021 • Medical review: Thomas J. Greany DDS, 2/7/2021
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