Impacted Wisdom Tooth Removal?
A common misconception patients have is that everyone needs to have their wisdom teeth removed. This is actually not true. There is nothing wrong with keeping the third molars or wisdom teeth and they can add value for patients, just like the other teeth in the mouth.
In some cases, impacted wisdom teeth do not cause any issues or impact the adjacent teeth. Therefore, they do not need to be removed. If impacted wisdom tooth are causing issues, however, they will likely require removal.
Impacted wisdom teeth occur when there is not enough room in the mouth or if the wisdom teeth do not grow in at the correct angle. This article will review symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth and discuss when they should be removed in addition to other common questions. If the impacted wisdom tooth is not causing any symptoms, it can often remain without any issues and the patient can avoid removal.
When the dentist is evaluating an impacted tooth, it is critical to consider the development and eruption of the other teeth as well. Third molars or wisdom teeth typically erupt when patients are between 16 and 25 years old. Because the roots of the teeth are not fully mature and the mouth is still developing, it can be debatable whether the term “impacted” is appropriate. In many cases, the teeth are still erupting and likely have not yet reached their final position.
Impacted wisdom teeth may not cause any symptoms for the patient. The dentist knows the teeth are impacted through dental x-rays. In other cases, impacted wisdom teeth can cause some of the following symptoms:
1. Swelling of the gums or in the jaw
2. Pain and discomfort
3. Bleeding gums
4. Bad breath or a foul taste in the mouth
5. Challenges with opening the mouth
If patients have any of the above symptoms associated with their impacted wisdom teeth, the dentist will likely proceed with removing the teeth. The wisdom teeth can be impacted in the six different ways outlined below:
- Mesial impaction – This is the most common type of impaction and occurs when the tooth is angled toward the front of the mouth.
- Vertical impaction – The teeth come in straight, but the mouth lacks adequate room for the teeth.
- Horizontal impaction – This type of impaction occurs when the teeth are horizontally impacted or lying on their side.
- Distal impaction – Distally impacted teeth are less common and the teeth are tilted toward the back of the mouth.
- Soft tissue impaction – This occurs when the teeth erupt through the gum.
- Bony impaction – This describes teeth which are still within the bone, but have emerged through the gum.
Impacted wisdom teeth can cause numerous issues and result in significant pain. Some of the most common issues include damaging other teeth in the mouth, discomfort, infections, tooth decay, and cysts. Follow up with the dentist if you believe that you have impacted wisdom teeth. The dentist can complete an examination and obtain x-rays to determine if the teeth need to be removed. When symptoms are present, the teeth typically need to be extracted. Impacted wisdom teeth which do not cause symptoms and are not affecting the other teeth, can often remain.