It can be confusing when a tooth problem causes pain in your ear — but it makes sense once you understand referred pain. The trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V) supplies sensation to both the teeth and the ear region, so a problem with a lower wisdom tooth can produce pain that feels like it's in the ear, temple, or side of the face.
Common Causes
Pericoronitis — infection and inflammation of the gum tissue around a partially erupted wisdom tooth — is the most common cause of wisdom tooth pain spreading to the ear. The infection irritates the nerve pathways and refers pain to adjacent areas.
An impacted wisdom tooth pressing against the second molar can cause pain that radiates to the ear and jaw. The pressure on the adjacent tooth and bone creates deep, spreading pain that patients often describe as reaching their ear.
Wisdom teeth in the upper jaw can also cause ear pain if they are impacted and pressing against the sinus cavity or causing TMJ irritation through their bite interference.
How to Tell If It's Your Wisdom Tooth
If the ear pain is worse when you open wide, chew, or if there's tenderness in the gum behind your last molar, the wisdom tooth is likely the cause. You may also notice swelling in the gum, difficulty opening your mouth fully, or a bad taste if the area is infected.
What to Do
Ear pain with a suspected dental cause should be assessed promptly. We can examine the wisdom tooth, take an X-ray to check position, and determine whether the tooth needs to be extracted or the infection treated with antibiotics. Leaving an infected wisdom tooth alone risks the infection spreading deeper into the jaw and face.
If any of this sounds familiar, book an assessment with us. The sooner we take a look, the simpler the treatment is likely to be. Call the practice on 01323 723757 or book online at www.meadsdental.com.