Impacted wisdom tooth

[pontypine69]

I've got one. It's never caused me problems apart from once when it got a bit infected and a course of antibiotics cleared it up quickly. However noticed recently that it looks like it could be going a bit black on the exposed side. It doesn't hurt but it can't be good can it?

Dentist has already advised it would have to be a surgical removal at the hospital which I'd really like to avoid if possible. Is it best to just sit tight and worry about it if and when it starts causing pain? Has anyone else had this?

[kokomako]

If it’s going black, it sounds like it has begun to decay which is what happened to one of mine that had barely managed to escape my gum. This led to several recurrent infections, a lot of pain, and I ended up having a vile taste in my mouth almost 24/7. This all spiralled quite quickly in the space of around 6 months as I’d never had problems with that particular tooth before. My other wisdom tooth OTOH had plagued me for about 7 years before they agreed to remove it.

If I were you I would elect to have it taken out at the hospital. You’ll be offered sedation, and if you accept it, you honestly won’t have a clue about the procedure and you won’t feel anything. When I had my wisdom teeth removed (on separate occasions) I remember the IV sedation needle going into my arm, and the next thing I was aware of was waking up when the surgery had finished.

The waiting list in my area was long and it took around 8 months from referral to the actual surgery. If you wait until the pain starts before asking for the removal, you could be in for a fair few months of pain and infections unfortunately.

[romany4]

I had one like that removed under GA.
Absolutely fine. No problems after.
Had to wait 18 months after referral to actually get it done though.

[kokomako]

Forgot to add that the decay on the impacted tooth actually ended up affecting my gum underneath - the dentist after viewing the X ray described it as “a load of rot” underneath my tooth, which isn’t a very nice thought, so def get it removed imo!

[pontypine69]

It's only recently that I've noticed this change in colour. It doesn't look black more discoloured but I can imagine it will get worse.

Ironically I did have a referral for the one on the other side because the dentist advised that it may rot and cause the tooth next to it to be removed too. But those ones aren't the issue, it's the other side.

I suppose I will have to make an appointment to get it checked out as a first step. Hate any form of dental treatment and really perplexed at why this has happened so suddenly.

[pontypine69]

And at my last check up which was probably only 2 months ago the dentist said no signs of decay.

[buswankerz]

3 of mine were impacted so I had to have them out under sedation.

[AliTheMinx]

I had all of mine removed at once under GA. Much better than in the dentist's chair. Sore for 1-2 weeks and then no probs at all. Healed very well.

[kokomako]

@pontypine69

It's only recently that I've noticed this change in colour. It doesn't look black more discoloured but I can imagine it will get worse.

Ironically I did have a referral for the one on the other side because the dentist advised that it may rot and cause the tooth next to it to be removed too. But those ones aren't the issue, it's the other side.

I suppose I will have to make an appointment to get it checked out as a first step. Hate any form of dental treatment and really perplexed at why this has happened so suddenly.

Wisdom teeth do behave oddly.

I had frequent severe pain and infections in my lower left one for 6 years before my dentist agreed to refer for an X ray. Following the X ray I was referred for removal due to the “rot” underneath my tooth. I assumed the “rot” the dentist was referring to was under my lower left, as that was the one I’d had all the problems with.

During the wait between X ray and surgery, I suddenly began having infections and some pain in the lower right, which I’d never had issues with before. Still, it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as what I’d had with the left one.

When I turned up at my hospital appointment, the surgeon said “okay, so we’re here today to remove your lower right wisdom tooth”. I was confused and questioned it, telling the surgeon that I thought they were removing the lower left as that was the one I’d had problems with for years. The surgeon was confused too and ended up pulling the X ray which confirmed it was in fact the right one that was rotten and that was the one I’d been referred for! So odd.

I had another crazy experience with my upper right one. Absolutely no signs of it coming in until one evening I started experiencing minor pain, the kind I felt in the early years with the lower left before it erupted. I woke up the next morning in AGONY, looked at my mouth in the mirror and the entire tooth had come in overnight, but it had grown diagonally! So it had cut into my cheek and caused a huge abscess type thing. I went to the dentist immediately and he removed it there and then with no drugs other than local anaesthetic. It was horrific. So definitely opt for the sedation.

Btw, I had been eating a packet of very crunchy pork scratchings a day or two before that happened, and maybe it’s coincidence but I have always wondered if the pressure/vibration in my jaw from the crunching somehow caused it to come through so suddenly!

[pontypine69]

@kokomako that is bunkers! I've never heard of one coming through so quickly like that. Having said that I have stages where mine feels like it's barely there and other times it's more prominent. Also have a flap of skin that overhangs it which tends to disappear and reappear again. Bizarre.

I will try and make an appointment and see where we go from here. Just worried that it will start causing me problems in the time between referral and actually being seen.

[2under2survivor]

Similar boat to you OP, you have my sympathy 😔

Just asking if anyone has any knowledge, I'm with a private dentist as there are no NHS dentists nearby, does this mean I will have to pay for extraction privately or could I be referred via the NHS? Hoping the latter...

[pontypine69]

@2under2survivor I'm sure they will refer you to the hospital, itll just mean a longer wait. Are you in pain with yours?

[ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine]

I understand wanting to avoid the surgery but it sounds inevitable. The longer you leave it the worse it will get and there's going to be a waiting list so I'd be getting on with it asap if I were you.

[BobbyBiscuits]

My wisdom looked black and I thought it was rotten, but the dentist said it was just the shape making it harder to clean. He cleaned it professionally and it looks much better now.
My other wisdom tooth just fell out the other day of its own accord, no pain, just like a baby tooth!
But don't be scared to removal, it's worth it if the tooth is hurting you. But don't get it done if it doesn't actually hurt.

[pontypine69]

@BobbyBiscuits

My wisdom looked black and I thought it was rotten, but the dentist said it was just the shape making it harder to clean. He cleaned it professionally and it looks much better now.
My other wisdom tooth just fell out the other day of its own accord, no pain, just like a baby tooth!
But don't be scared to removal, it's worth it if the tooth is hurting you. But don't get it done if it doesn't actually hurt.

It's not hurting at the minute. A bit sensitive perhaps but no pain. I'm worried it will get worse though. I read online that black doesn't always mean decay. But I suppose I'd need to see the dentist for him to make that call.

[BobbyBiscuits]

@pontypine69 deffo see the dentist. You may find it's just a bit grubby or yucky but not decayed. The shape of wisdoms make them hard to clean as half the tooth is below the gum if it's impacted. It can damage the tooth in front, if that's the case they may recommend removal somewhere down the line.
Use corsodyl gel on it, and chlroxhidine mouthwash. But don't worry!

[fancyfrogs]

Very similar situation here. One of mine in particular is more impacted and difficult to clean than the other and I thought it looked a bit discoloured on a patch I can barely see - dentist said it was ok but was starting to affect the tooth in front of it, which will probably need a filling (no pain but 'shadowing' on X-ray). I've been referred to hospital for both lower wisdom teeth to be extracted next month. I've not had any pain from them at all but really didnt want to risk that so agreed removal now was the best option. I think it took around 4 months from referral to initial consultation at the hospital then the removal will be about 3 months after that. Nervous but want it over and done with now!

@2under2survivor I'm also with a private dentist and have been referred to NHS hospital thankfully!

[pontypine69]

Thanks all. I've managed to get an appointment but not until next week.

I feel like an idiot because last year the dentist warned me this could happen and gave me a referral for the hospital then. But because I was adamant I didn't want the surgery and that the tooth was fine I never followed it up. If I had I'd probably have had it removed by now. So I'm expecting a telling off at my appointment next week.

[KreedKafer]

You need to see a dentist. If they think the tooth is decaying rather than just discoloured, then you need to go ahead and have it removed.

Tooth decay doesn't always hurt, but it can have pretty serious implications (way beyond dental ones) if infection spreads. It can reach your brain very quickly, and/or cause sepsis.

I had a wisdom tooth removed and mine was a particularly complicated one (it hadn't come through the gum at all and was basically growing horizontally somewhere around where my sinus is. It wasn't fun, but it wasn't horrific either, and from what you've said it's likely that yours would be an easier removal than mine was, please try not to worry if you need yours taking out. It's much better than recurring infections or 'silent' decay, which can be pretty dangerous.

[pontypine69]

@KreedKafer

You need to see a dentist. If they think the tooth is decaying rather than just discoloured, then you need to go ahead and have it removed.

Tooth decay doesn't always hurt, but it can have pretty serious implications (way beyond dental ones) if infection spreads. It can reach your brain very quickly, and/or cause sepsis.

I had a wisdom tooth removed and mine was a particularly complicated one (it hadn't come through the gum at all and was basically growing horizontally somewhere around where my sinus is. It wasn't fun, but it wasn't horrific either, and from what you've said it's likely that yours would be an easier removal than mine was, please try not to worry if you need yours taking out. It's much better than recurring infections or 'silent' decay, which can be pretty dangerous.

Oh gosh don't tell me horror stories, even if I do get the referral it's going to be months before I get it removed. What will happen if it gets serious or infected before then?

I am seeing the dentist next week so I'm taking steps but I feel like a fool for not taking his advice last year.

[pontypine69]

Sorry to resurrect this thread but my dentist appointment yesterday was cancelled at short notice and they now can't see me for another month! I really don't know what to do because I can't insist on an emergency appointment as it isn't causing pain and isn't infected. And there are no other dentists in the area with space to see me.
Will it be ok to wait another month? There's been no change or worsening but I'm conscious that the referral to the hospital will take bloody ages too. So annoyed!