IMPACTED WISDOM TEETH
Impacted wisdom teeth occur when the third molars in the back of the mouth do not have enough room to emerge or develop. Wisdom teeth are the last of the adult teeth to erupt. Most people have four wisdom teeth in their mouth, two on the top and two on the bottom.
Impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain, crowd the other teeth and result in other dental issues. In some cases, impacted wisdom teeth don’t cause immediate problems, but because they are in the back of the mouth and hard to clean, they can be especially vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease.
Impacted wisdom teeth which are painful or likely to cause other dental complications are often removed. Some dentists and oral surgeons recommend removing impacted wisdom teeth as a preventative measure to avoid future problems.
Symptoms
Impacted wisdom teeth don't always have obvious symptoms. However, when an impacted wisdom tooth is infected, causes damage to other teeth, or leads to other problems you may experience some of the following symptoms:
- Red or swollen gums
- Sore or bleeding gums
- Jaw pain
- Swelling around the jaw
- Bad breath
- Unpleasant taste in your mouth
- Difficulty in opening your 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.
Causes
Wisdom teeth are impacted because they don't have enough room to come through and develop on their own.
Wisdom teeth usually emerge when patients are between 17 and 25 years old. It is possible for the wisdom teeth to emerge without any issues, but often the wisdom teeth are too crowded and the molars become trapped or impacted.
It is possible for an impacted wisdom tooth to partially emerge so that some of the tooth is visible which is considered partially impacted. It may also never break through the gums which is called fully impacted. Whether the wisdom tooth is partially or fully impacted, it may grow:
- 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 various problems within the mouth:
- Damage to 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 located in the jawbone. When the sac fills with fluid, it forms a cyst that can cause damage to the jawbone, teeth and nerves. This complication and development may be treated by removing bone and tissue.
- 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 cleaning impacted, partially erupted wisdom teeth, there is an increased risk for developing a painful, inflammatory gum condition called pericoronitis.
Prevention
While it is impossible to prevent the impaction of wisdom teeth, maintaining your routine dental visits 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 any painful symptoms develop.
More on Wisdom Teeth Extraction / Removal : Possible Complications with Removal