Wisdom Tooth Pain in Geneva: When to Seek Emergency Help

Wisdom tooth pain is one of the most common dental complaints we see at our Geneva emergency clinic. Wisdom teeth are the last molars to emerge, usually between the ages of 17 and 25, and they often cause problems because there is simply not enough room for them in the jaw.

Not all wisdom tooth pain requires emergency treatment. Minor aching or pressure during eruption can be normal. Over-the-counter pain relief and saltwater rinses can manage mild discomfort.

However, you should contact us immediately if you experience: severe, persistent pain that does not respond to pain medication; swelling in the jaw, cheek, or lymph nodes; difficulty opening your mouth or swallowing; fever; pus or a bad taste coming from the area behind the last molar; pain spreading to the ear, jaw, or neck.

These can indicate pericoronitis (infection of the gum around an erupting tooth), abscess, or a semi-impacted wisdom tooth that is trapping food and bacteria. These situations require urgent treatment.

Treatment options range from antibiotics and irrigation for mild pericoronitis, to surgical extraction for impacted wisdom teeth. At our Geneva clinic, we have experienced oral surgeons who perform wisdom tooth extractions under local anaesthetic.

Do not delay treatment if you have signs of infection. Wisdom tooth infections can spread to the throat and neck rapidly - in rare cases this can become life-threatening.