Impacted Wisdom Teeth | Extracting Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Impacted wisdom teeth are third molars at the back of the mouth that don't have enough room to emerge or develop normally.
Wisdom teeth are the last adult teeth to come into the mouth (erupt). Most people have four wisdom teeth at the back of the mouth — two on the top, two on the bottom.
Impacted wisdom teeth can result in pain, damage to other teeth and other dental problems. In some cases, impacted wisdom teeth may cause no apparent or immediate problems. But because they're hard to clean, they may be more vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease than other teeth are.
Impacted wisdom teeth that cause pain or other dental complications are usually removed. Some dentists and oral surgeons also recommend removing impacted wisdom teeth that don't cause symptoms to prevent future problems.
"Depending on how the teeth grow through, impacted wisdom teeth can have:
- Mesioangular impaction: The tooth is angled towards the front of the mouth
- Vertical impaction: The tooth does not break through the gum line
- Distoangular impaction: The tooth is angled towards the back of the mouth
- Horizontal impaction: The tooth is angled sideways at a full 90 degrees, and it grows into the roots of the molar next to it
An impacted wisdom tooth can cause a range of problems.
The overcrowding and pressure can lead to general crowding of the teeth and the patient may need orthodontic treatments to straighten crooked teeth.
The tooth may grow into a sac in the jawbone which fills with fluid, creating a cyst. The cyst can damage the jawbone, and the teeth and nerves nearby.
The second molar, which is next to the wisdom tooth, becomes more prone to infection if something is pushing against it.
Even if there are no symptoms, impacted wisdom teeth can damage other teeth and can be more prone to infections.
An infection can lead to bad breath, earache, headache, a strange taste in the mouth, toothache, swollen gums which may be redder than usual, swollen jaw, and bleeding gums.
More serious infections include cellulitis in the cheek tongue or throat or gingivitis, the gum disease that results when plaque releases toxins that irritate the gums.
To relieve symptoms, patients can:
- Use painkillers, but swallow them rather than leaving them on the sore tooth
- Use a mouthwash of warm water and a teaspoon of salt several times a day: This can reduce soreness and inflammation
- Use an antibacterial mouthwash, such as chlorhexidine
If the pain continues, medical attention should be sought.
A dentist may clean the teeth and prescribe antibiotics, but if the problem returns, the teeth may need removing.
Removal
If a wisdom tooth is painful or troublesome, or if it causes damage to other teeth or the jaw bone, it will be taken out.
An oral surgeon will need to see a patient if an existing medical condition puts them at a higher risk of complications.
Dentists cannot accurately predict which wisdom teeth are going to cause problems. However, the angle at which the tooth erupts and the extent to which it pushes against other teeth can offer a clue.
What to expect at the dentist
The dentist will probably take an x-ray to see how the roots lie and how the tooth is growing.
The removal may take place at a dentist's surgery or as an outpatient at the hospital.
How straightforward the operation is will depend on the position of the tooth or teeth to be removed.
After having the tooth or teeth removed, there may be pain and swelling for a few days. Painkillers such as ibuprofen can help sometimes antibiotics might be prescribed.
The dentist will advise on mouthwashes. If there are stitches, they may need to be removed about a week later. It is important to follow the dentist's post treatment instructions.
It is important to relax and to avoid alcohol and smoking for at least 24 hours, to make sure there are no bleeding problems.
Complications of surgery
Some patients have problems during or after the extraction of their wisdom teeth, but these are not usually serious.
Problems may include:
- Swelling
- Discoloration
- Pain
- Malaise, or a feeling of being unwell
- Bruising and discomfort
- Infection
- Dry socket
- Bleeding
- A hole between the mouth and the maxillary sinus
- A fistula between the mouth and the sinus, sometimes through the tooth socket
Nerve damage can occur in nearby teeth, when the wisdom tooth is removed. This can lead to numbness or paralysis in the lip, tongue, or cheek.
A dry socket, or alveolar osteitis, is when a blood clot does not form properly in the socket left by the wisdom tooth. This can lead to a throbbing pain. It normally results from patients not following the dentist's instructions. It can result from smoking, rinsing the area too soon after surgery, or sucking on it.
Sometimes removing the wisdom tooth can cause a fracture in the maxillary tuberosity, which is just behind the upper wisdom tooth.
A lower jaw, or mandibular fracture, can occur during surgery or within 4 weeks after surgery.
It is important to practice good dental hygiene and to have regular checkups to minimize the risk of dental problems.
If you are struggling with wisdom tooth pain, give our specialists a call today and experience the Oral Surgery Center difference! You can find all of this info and more at https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/188660.php"
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