IMPACTED WISDOM TEETH

Impacted wisdom teeth occur when the third molars in the back of the mouth don’t have sufficient room to erupt or develop. Wisdom teeth are the last of the adult teeth to develop. Most people have four wisdom teeth in their mouth, two which are in the top jaw and two in the bottom jaw.

Impacted mobile alabama removal of wisdom teeth can cause pain, crowd the other teeth and result in other issues. In some cases, impacted wisdom teeth don’t cause any problems right away. However, because they are in the back of the mouth and difficult to clean, they can be particularly vulnerable to decay and gum disease.

Impacted wisdom teeth which are painful or cause other complications are often removed. Some dentists and oral surgeons recommend preventatively removing impacted wisdom teeth in order to avoid problems in the future.

Symptoms

Impacted wisdom teeth do not always have obvious symptoms. When an impacted wisdom tooth is infected, it can damage the other teeth or result in other issues. Some of the common symptoms with impacted wisdom teeth include:

  • Red, swollen gums
  • Sore or bleeding gums
  • Pain or swelling in the jaw
  • Bad breath
  • Unpleasant taste
  • Difficulty with opening the mouth

When to see a doctor

It is important to visit your dentist if you experience any of the symptoms that are associated with an impacted wisdom tooth. Early intervention can help prevent serious and painful problems from occurring.

Causes

Wisdom teeth are impacted because they don't have enough room to come through the gums and develop on their own.

Wisdom teeth usually emerge when patients are between 17 and 25 years old. It is possible in some cases for the wisdom teeth to emerge without any issues. Often times, the wisdom teeth are too crowded and the molars become trapped or impacted.

It is also possible for an impacted wisdom tooth to partially emerge. This results in some of the tooth being visible and is considered a partially impacted wisdom tooth. It may also never break through the gums which is referred to as fully impacted. Whether the wisdom tooth is partially or fully impacted, it may grow in the following directions:

  • At an angle toward the adjacent teeth
  • At an angle towards the back of the mouth
  • At a right angle, parallel within the jawbone
  • Straight up and down as the other teeth grow, but get trapped in the jawbone

Complications

Impacted wisdom teeth can cause a variety of problems in the mouth including:

  • Damage to the other teeth: If the wisdom teeth push against the adjacent molars, they may damage the teeth or increase the risk of infection. This pressure can also result in crowding issues of the other teeth, ultimately requiring orthodontic treatments.
  • Cysts: The wisdom tooth develops inside a sac that is located in the jawbone. When the sac fills with fluid, it forms a cyst that can cause damage to the oral cavity. To treat this complication bone and tissue may need to be removed.
  • Decay: Partially impacted wisdom teeth are at a higher risk for tooth decay. This likely occurs because wisdom teeth are more difficult to clean. In addition, food and bacteria are easily trapped between the gum and the partially erupted wisdom tooth.
  • Gum disease: Because of the difficulty in thoroughly cleaning impacted wisdom teeth, there is an increased risk for developing a painful, inflammatory gum condition called pericoronitis.

Prevention

While it is impossible to prevent the wisdom teeth from being impacted, regularly visiting your dentist every six months allows your dentist to monitor the growth of your wisdom teeth. Frequent dental X-rays can also expose impacted wisdom teeth before the development of painful symptoms.

More on Wisdom Tooth Extraction : Wisdom Teeth Removal Complications