Are you experiencing any of these symptoms?
- Is your jaw hurting? Frequent headaches?
- Is the pain radiating towards the ear?
- Is bad breath or an unpleasant taste annoying you?
- Sometimes, the real culprit behind these symptoms could be your wisdom tooth.
The Case
The patient came with the chief complaint of pain in the upper left-back region of the mouth, with pain radiating to the ear and temple region, along with difficulty in mouth opening.
On Clinical Examination
The clinical examination revealed:
- Pericoronitis (inflammation & redness)
- Traumatic cheek bite due to a buccally tilted upper third molar (28)
- On radiographic examination, 28 was found to have an unusual root morphology with pronounced buccal curvature and rotation of the roots.
Treatment
The curved root configuration necessitated careful controlled luxation to minimise the risk of root fracture and damage to the surrounding structures.
The tooth was subsequently removed in toto.
The Takeaway
A wisdom tooth may sometimes be the underlying cause of pain that appears to radiate towards the ear and temple, along with symptoms such as difficulty in mouth opening, bad breath, or an unpleasant taste.
A proper clinical and radiographic examination is essential to identify the real culprit.
