Do dogs have wisdom teeth? Can wisdom teeth cause ear pain in dogs similar to human beings? How to know if dogs have dental pain or ear pain? Most of the time, pet parents wonder about the answer to these questions. As you can see, your dog is also prone to different oral health problems like human’s natural teeth. In fact, dental diseases are very common in dogs. If left untreated, it might cause irreversible damage to the dog’s teeth, gums, and jawbones. Keep reading to understand how wisdom teeth can cause ear pain to humans. Also, learn if the dog develops wisdom teeth, including common ear and oral diseases in dogs.
Impacted Wisdom Tooth and Ear Pain
Discomfort in the ear or ear pain can be identified with temporomandibular joints or occur because of impacted wisdom teeth. This is possible and common because your wisdom teeth are closer to your ears.
In addition, wisdom tooth pain can negatively influence your ear and prompt, severe earaches. However, most people fail to realize the source of their ear pain.
Common Symptoms of Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Since you have an idea that your wisdom teeth may cause ear pain, it is crucial to understand the indication of having impacted wisdom teeth. Usually, you can have:
- Inflamed gums
- Bad breath or halitosis
- Jaw pain
- Bad taste in your mouth
- Unusual swelling around the jaw
- Trouble opening your mouth
These symptoms indicate that you need to book an appointment with your dentist. Always remember that getting wisdom teeth removed is far better than experiencing severe pain and discomfort. Other than causing ear pain, impacted wisdom teeth can likewise be responsible for tooth decay, TMJ pain, gum disease, cysts, damage to the adjacent teeth, and so on. Hence, never disregard having impacted wisdom teeth if you want to guarantee the wellness of your oral health.
Do Dogs Have Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are an additional set of molar teeth in humans. They usually appear between the ages of 17 and 22. However, if there is insufficient space in the mouth or if they emerge in the wrong 
position, they can become impacted, which can cause a severe and painful sensation. Luckily, dogs do not have wisdom teeth, but it does not mean they are free from dental health problems.
Common Oral Diseases in Dogs
Though dogs do not have wisdom teeth, they can still face several oral diseases. The most common are:
Tooth root abscesses. This dental infection happens around the tooth root, most generally developing in the upper fourth premolar. These abscesses can make a draining tract underneath the eye or on the cheek that can tear open.
Gingivitis. This is an early form of gum disease that causes gum inflammation.
Periodontal disease. If gum inflammation is left untreated, it can lead to a more advanced condition, known as periodontal disease. Know that this condition affects gum ligament and bone.
Ear Diseases
Ear disease, also called otitis, is another common problem in dogs. For some dogs, ear disease can turn into an almost permanent issue. Surgical treatment may be necessary in some extreme cases to decrease the side effects.
If you want to know how to recognize if your dog suffers from an ear disease, then look at this helpful rundown of indications.
- Odor in the ear
- Brown, yellow, or bloody discharge
- Head shaking or head tilt
- Hair loss around the ear
- Unusual eye movements
- Scratching of the ear area or rubbing of the ear on the furniture or floor
- Loss of balance
- Redness swelling crusts on the inside of the external ear
- Walking in circles
As you can notice, most of the indications are more evident than others. So if your dog shows any of the symptoms, then take a quick peek at the ear. Is it red? Is there an awful odor? Either way, the best approach is to bring your dog to a vet to get a proper diagnosis and early treatment.
References:
Impacted wisdom teeth
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/wisdom-teeth/symptoms-causes/syc-20373808
Adjacent tooth trauma in complicated mandibular third molar surgery: Risk degree classification and digital surgical simulation.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5156916/
Acute Otitis Externa: An Update.
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2012/1201/p1055.html
