Impacted Wisdom Teeth Removal
Impacted wisdom teeth, also referred to as impacted third molars, occur when the teeth do not fully erupt in the mouth due to a blockage. This can lead to pain, inflammation, infection, and damage to surrounding teeth. Approximately 53% of people have at least one wisdom tooth come in. Impacted wisdom teeth that cause complications are typically removed.
At Cedar Walk Dentistry, our goal is for you to have a comfortable, relaxing experience where you receive the best dental care possible.
Understanding Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Impaction occurs when a tooth gets blocked by surrounding bone, gum tissue, or nearby teeth, preventing it from fully erupting into its proper position. This impaction can appear in a variety of ways, depending on the angle and position of the impacted tooth. Let's briefly evaluate different types of wisdom teeth impaction
Mesial Impaction
This is the most prevalent form. This occurs when the wisdom tooth is angled or tilted towards the front of the mouth, typically leaning towards the adjacent second molar. The positioning of the wisdom tooth in this manner can lead to various dental challenges and discomfort.
When a wisdom tooth is vertically impacted, it indicates that the tooth's crown is properly placed within the jawbone, aligning with the surrounding teeth as it should during normal eruption. However, even with good alignment, the tooth is partially or entirely covered by gum tissue, preventing it from fully breaking through the surface.
One of the distinguishing characteristics of vertical impaction is that the tooth's position might result in a flap or pouch of gum tissue overlying the crown. This flap can easily trap food debris, bacteria, and plaque, causing localized inflammation, discomfort, and an increased risk of infection in the area.
Horizontal Impaction
When a wisdom tooth is horizontally impacted, it indicates that instead of aligning vertically or at an angle that promotes eruption, the tooth lies horizontally or nearly parallel to the neighboring teeth. This unusual placement can be caused by a variety of circumstances, including jaw space limitations, crowding, or developmental difficulties.
Due to the wisdom tooth resting on its side, it produces undue force and stress on the teeth in front of it, often leading to pain, discomfort, and even damage to these adjacent teeth over time.
Distal Impaction
The least common yet noticeable type of wisdom tooth impaction. This type arises when the wisdom tooth is tilted or inclined towards the back of the mouth, away from the other teeth. The distinctive placement of a distally impacted wisdom tooth might lead to various complications.
Symptoms of Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Typically, wisdom teeth become visible between the ages of 17 - 25, and are the last teeth to come in. Your dentist will see your wisdom teeth on a dental x-ray. Impacted wisdom teeth do not always cause symptoms; however, your dentist will likely recommend wisdom teeth removal before complications occur. If you experience infection, damage to surrounding teeth, or other problems, you may suffer from:
- Jaw pain
- Swelling
- Teeth crowding
- Crooked teeth
- Red gums
- Bad breath
- Bleeding gums
- ...and more
Contact us today to learn more about our wisdom teeth removal.
Treatment Options for Impacted Wisdom Teeth
The most popular and successful treatment for impacted wisdom teeth that are causing discomfort, infection, harm to neighboring teeth, or other issues is surgical extraction.
Pain relief is a major factor in the recommendation for surgical extraction of impacted wisdom teeth. By extracting the impacted tooth surgically, the source of discomfort and pressure on the surrounding tissues and nerves is removed, which eventually relieves ongoing pain. Infections related to impacted wisdom teeth, such as pericoronitis or abscess formation, are also effectively treated through surgical extraction.
If you dealing with discomfort or pain from your wisdom teeth, don't let it persist and potentially worsen your oral health - contact us today to learn more about our wisdom teeth removal.
We also offer the following dental care services:
- Regular checkups and cleanings
- Oral cancer screening
- Dental sealants
- Nightguards
- Mouthguards
- Laser Dentistry
- Cleanings
- Veneers
- Teeth Whitening
- Bridges
- Crowns
- Fillings
- Dentures
- Root Canals
- Dental Implants
- Extractions
...and more
You can deal with impacted wisdom teeth proactively by recognizing these symptoms and consulting with your dentist. Your dentist will conduct a complete examination, including X-rays, to examine the location and condition of your wisdom teeth and offer appropriate treatment choices, such as wisdom tooth extraction if necessary.