Do I need surgery for wisdom tooth pain and jaw clicking?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 24-year-old woman, and I have had wisdom tooth pain for the past few days. Today, my jaw started making a clicking sound when I open my mouth or eat. It is not hurting, but I have a headache. I have been under stress for the past three days. Is this normal? Will it need surgery?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through your query and understand your concern.

An improperly aligned wisdom tooth needs extraction. Whether it requires a normal or surgical extraction will be determined after a clinical examination and X-rays. Your dentist will decide the most appropriate treatment based on the tooth position and surrounding structures.

Regarding your jaw, stress explains a lot. Being under stress for three days can cause you to grind your teeth aggressively, either while awake or while sleeping. Excess jaw muscle tension can cause a headache.

The clicking sound can be the result of a minor dislocation due to the aggressive forces and inflammation around the jaw.

You can follow these measures:

Take an anti-inflammatory medication, such as Ibuprofen 600 mg, one tablet every six hours for two to three days.
Avoid crispy or hard foods.
Reduce stress as much as you can.
Use warm compresses over the face in the jaw area. Repeat this three to four times a day for two to three days.
Muscle relaxant medications can also be used (if they are available over the counter in your country), such as Chlorzoxazone 250 mg twice daily.

I hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.