An earache may seem unrelated to your teeth, but pain does not always stay close to its source. When discomfort near the ear appears along with soreness at the back of the jaw, a wisdom tooth may be involved. At Adara Surgical Institute in Issaquah, WA, we see patients convinced they have an ear problem whose exam and 3D scan point to a lower wisdom tooth instead.
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When to Call the Same Day
An infected gum over a partly erupted wisdom tooth (pericoronitis) can spread toward the throat, so a few symptoms need action the same day.
If you have trouble breathing, cannot swallow your own saliva, or the swelling is moving down into your neck, go to the emergency room or call 911. Do not wait for an appointment.
Call us the same day at (425) 428-5888 if you have any of the following. We keep same-day slots for these. If another dentist or surgeon is already treating you, call that office first.
- Trouble opening your mouth, less than about two finger widths
- Swelling spreading to the cheek or under the jaw
- Fever over 101 F with jaw pain or facial swelling
- Pain when you swallow
- Pus, or a foul taste that does not go away
- Pain that keeps getting worse over 2 to 3 days instead of easing
Why a Wisdom Tooth May Cause Pain Near the Ear
Wisdom teeth sit at the very back of the mouth, close to the jaw muscles and nerves that carry sensation through the face. Several problems in this area can create pain that travels toward the ear.
Feeling from the face is carried by the trigeminal nerve (the large nerve that supplies sensation to the face). Its lower branch supplies the lower teeth, and a smaller branch off that same trunk
supplies the skin in front of the ear and part of the ear canal. When a lower wisdom tooth is
inflamed, the signal travels up that shared nerve and the brain cannot always tell which branch it came from. You feel it as an earache. This is called referred pain, and a wisdom tooth is a real cause of it.
A Partially Erupted Tooth
A wisdom tooth may break through part of the gum while another portion remains covered. The flap of gum over the tooth can trap food and bacteria, making the area difficult to clean.
Inflammation or infection around this gum tissue is called pericoronitis. The resulting pain may spread through the jaw and toward the ear.
An Impacted Wisdom Tooth
An impacted wisdom tooth remains partly or completely trapped beneath the gums or jawbone. Impaction does not always cause symptoms, but problems may develop if the tooth becomes inflamed, damages a nearby tooth, or creates an area where bacteria collect.
Decay or Infection
Wisdom teeth can be hard to reach with a toothbrush and floss. A cavity or infection may develop in the wisdom tooth or the molar in front of it. Dental infection can produce a deep, throbbing pain that extends into the jaw, cheek, or ear area.
Signs the Ear Pain May Be Coming From a Wisdom Tooth
The location of the pain alone cannot confirm the cause. However, an earache is more likely to have a dental source when it appears with changes at the back of the mouth.
Watch for:
- Pain or pressure behind the last molar
- Red, swollen, or tender gum tissue
- Pain that increases while chewing or opening your mouth
- Difficulty opening your mouth fully
- Swelling along the back of the jaw or cheek
- A bad taste or persistent bad breath
- Food repeatedly becoming trapped around a partially erupted tooth
- Pus or drainage near the wisdom tooth
- Fever along with dental pain or facial swelling
These symptoms can develop gradually or appear during a sudden flare-up. Even if the discomfort settles, the underlying tooth may still need to be evaluated.
Other Causes of Ear Pain
Three other conditions are often mistaken for a wisdom tooth. TMJ disorder is a problem with the jaw joint or the chewing muscles, which sit directly in front of the ear. It brings an ache right at the joint, clicking or popping, and a jaw that feels stiff in the morning, with normal gums and no fever.
An ear infection causes pain in the ear itself, often with fever, a change in hearing, or discharge, and the mouth looks normal. Sinusitis causes pressure in the cheek and upper teeth that is worse when you bend forward, along with congestion.
A wisdom tooth problem almost always comes with swollen gum behind the last molar, a bad taste, or food trapping. Rarer causes exist too, so pain that persists after a normal dental exam should still be followed up.
Wisdom Tooth Assessment at Adara Surgical Institute
A wisdom tooth assessment helps determine whether your third molars are developing normally or creating a risk to your oral health. At Adara Surgical Institute, we examine the wisdom teeth and surrounding tissues for signs of impaction, infection, decay, gum inflammation, or damage to nearby teeth.
We also take an in-office 3D scan (cone beam CT) on every assessment to evaluate the position of each tooth and its relationship to nearby nerves and other structures. Based on these findings, Dr. Hardeep Dhaliwal will explain whether the wisdom teeth can be monitored or whether wisdom teeth removal is recommended.
If the gum over the tooth is infected, we still remove the tooth. Sometimes we settle the infection first with antibiotics or a chlorhexidine (Peridex) rinse, and during surgery we irrigate the site with Peridex or betadine. When the exam and the scan are both normal and the pain keeps returning, unexplained pain at the back of the jaw can itself be a reason to remove the wisdom teeth.
Schedule a Wisdom Tooth Consultation
If you have pain at the back of your jaw that spreads toward your ear, an evaluation can help determine whether a wisdom tooth is responsible. At Adara Surgical Institute, Dr. Hardeep Dhaliwal, a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon (United States and Canada), provides careful assessment and treatment for impacted and symptomatic wisdom teeth.
To book a consultation at our oral surgery office in Issaquah, WA, call (425) 428-5888 or visit us at 6505 226th Pl SE, STE #100 Issaquah, WA.
FAQs
Can an impacted wisdom tooth cause ear pain?
Inflammation, infection, or other problems around an impacted wisdom tooth can create referred pain that you feel in the jaw, face, or ear. Imaging can show whether the tooth is impacted and affecting nearby structures.
Can wisdom teeth cause a sore throat?
Yes. An inflamed or infected wisdom tooth can cause discomfort that spreads toward the throat, particularly when the gum tissue around a partially erupted tooth becomes infected.
How can I relieve ear pressure from wisdom teeth?
Ibuprofen or acetaminophen, taken as directed on the label, and warm salt water rinses may provide temporary relief. Never place aspirin or any other tablet on the gum; it burns the tissue. If the pain lasts more than 2 to 3 days, flares a second time, or comes with any of the same-day symptoms above, have the wisdom tooth evaluated to determine the underlying cause.
How do I know if it is my ear or my wisdom tooth?
Look at the back of your mouth, or have someone look for you. A wisdom tooth problem almost always comes with swollen gum behind the last molar, a bad taste, food trapping, or pain when you bite on that side. Pain from the ear itself comes with fever, a hearing change or discharge, and the mouth looks normal.
Will the ear pain go away after wisdom teeth removal?
When the tooth was the cause, the referred pain settles as the socket heals. The exception is dry socket, when the blood clot comes out early; it causes pain at the site and sometimes near the ear about 2 to 3 days after surgery, and it means calling the office that did your surgery. Our post on the worst day of pain after wisdom tooth extraction covers what is normal.
How much does a wisdom tooth assessment cost?
Cost depends on what the exam and scan show and what treatment, if any, is needed. We go over the fee, your insurance and payment options at the consult before anything is scheduled. Details are on our financing and insurance page.
