Do I Need My Wisdom Teeth Removed Quiz
Questions: 15 · 10 minutes
1. What signs of infection or illness have you noticed with the tooth-area problem?
I have not noticed fever, pus, foul drainage, or an unusual taste from the area.
I have occasionally noticed an unpleasant taste or odor from around the tooth, without fever.
I have seen pus or drainage, or I have had a measured fever with the dental symptoms.
I have fever with rapidly worsening swelling, faintness, confusion, or a strong sense of being seriously unwell.
2. What pattern of gum irritation have you experienced behind your last molar?
I have not noticed bleeding, tenderness, or a gum flap there.
The area is occasionally tender or bleeds only when I clean it more firmly than usual.
Tenderness or bleeding returns during normal brushing, flossing, or eating.
A gum flap repeatedly becomes markedly swollen, drains pus, or makes it difficult to close my mouth comfortably.
3. What care has this wisdom-tooth area needed so far?
It has not required symptom-related dental care.
I have managed one short-lived episode or mentioned a minor issue once.
I have needed more than one visit, prescription, cleaning, or other treatment for the same area.
Problems continue despite prior treatment, or a dentist has said the source cannot be predictably kept healthy without further intervention.
4. How are the symptoms affecting your ability to eat and drink today?
I am eating and drinking normally.
I prefer chewing on the other side, but I can maintain my usual intake.
I need soft foods or am drinking less because of pain or swelling.
Pain or swelling is preventing adequate fluids, or I have signs of dehydration such as very little urination or marked dizziness.
5. How has the tooth's position affected your cheek, tongue, or bite?
I have not noticed rubbing, biting, sores, or a change in how my teeth meet.
I have had brief irritation that settled and has not become a pattern.
The tooth repeatedly rubs or catches tissue, or I often bite the same area.
There is a persistent or repeatedly reopening sore, ongoing tissue injury, or a bite problem a dental professional has advised me to address.
6. What has a dental professional found regarding decay or gum damage around this tooth and the molar beside it?
A recent examination found neither tooth affected and supported routine monitoring.
I have not had the area examined recently enough to know.
A dentist found early decay, a deep gum pocket, or another change requiring follow-up.
A dentist found non-restorable decay, substantial gum or bone damage, or damage to the neighboring molar.
7. Which description best matches swelling around your wisdom-tooth area right now?
I have not noticed swelling around the gum, jaw, cheek, or neck.
The gum immediately around the tooth looks slightly puffy or irritated.
Swelling is visible in my cheek or along my jaw.
Swelling is spreading toward my neck or eye, or it is affecting swallowing or breathing.
8. After meals, what usually happens around the back tooth?
Food does not usually collect there, and I can clean the area normally.
Food occasionally catches there, but I can remove it without much difficulty.
Food frequently becomes trapped and is difficult to remove, sometimes causing tenderness or a bad taste.
The area cannot be cleaned effectively and repeatedly develops inflammation, drainage, or a dental problem noted by a professional.
9. When you open your mouth, swallow, and breathe, what is happening?
My jaw opens normally, and swallowing and breathing are unaffected.
My jaw feels mildly stiff, but I can still open it and swallow normally.
Jaw opening is clearly limited, or swallowing has become painful.
I cannot swallow saliva normally, I am drooling, breathing feels restricted, or my jaw is rapidly becoming harder to open.
10. What do you know about how the wisdom tooth has erupted?
A dentist has confirmed that it is fully erupted, functional, and suitable for routine monitoring.
I do not know its eruption status or have not had it assessed recently.
It is partly erupted, partly covered by gum, or described as trapped under gum or bone.
A clinician has said it is impacted in a way that is already damaging another tooth or associated tissue.
11. What has a dental professional said about keeping the tooth healthy over time?
The tooth can be cleaned and monitored effectively under the current plan.
Its long-term maintainability has not been assessed or explained to me.
The tooth is difficult to clean or positioned unfavorably, so closer monitoring has been recommended.
A clinician has documented progressing disease or said the tooth cannot be predictably maintained without further treatment.
12. Which statement best describes imaging of the wisdom tooth?
Recent imaging was reviewed and the clinician recommended routine observation.
I have not had recent imaging, and no clinician has yet said whether it is needed.
A dentist has recommended new or follow-up imaging because of the tooth's position or symptoms.
Imaging has shown a cyst-like lesion, root resorption, significant bone damage, or another finding requiring prompt specialist review.
13. How would you describe your current pain near a back tooth or jaw?
I do not currently have pain there.
I notice mild discomfort occasionally, but it passes and does not limit me.
Pain is persistent or regularly interferes with eating, sleep, work, or study.
Pain is severe or rapidly worsening, or it remains uncontrolled despite measures I normally use safely.
14. What professional advice have you received about this wisdom tooth?
A dentist has examined it and recommended routine monitoring rather than treatment at present.
I have not discussed this specific tooth with a dentist recently.
A dentist has recommended a consultation to compare monitoring with possible removal.
A dentist or oral surgeon has recommended treatment or removal because of recurring disease, damage, or another documented concern.
15. During the past 12 months, how often has the same wisdom-tooth area become painful, swollen, or inflamed?
It has not happened during that period.
It happened once and settled without returning.
It happened two or three separate times.
It happened four or more times, or returned soon after previous treatment.