Impacted Wisdom Teeth: Warning Signs and What to Do

Dentists define impacted wisdom teeth as molars that emerge or develop abnormally. It occurs when the third molars lack enough space to grow normally. As you grow older, wisdom teeth are the last to erupt. They come in two pairs at the back of your mouth, two on the bottom and two on the top.

When wisdom teeth are in impaction, they cause many dental problems. They damage other teeth and cause a lot of pain. Due to their location in your mouth, they are difficult to reach when brushing. For this reason, they are more vulnerable to teeth ailments in comparison to other teeth. 

Causes

The human jaw has been shrinking over centuries due to evolution. Despite the shrinkage of the jaw, a third of the molars remain. For this reason, some of these teeth may face impaction from the adjacent teeth or gums. Once the wisdom teeth begin taking their place in your mouth, myriad issues can arise. Sometimes, partial impaction may occur where your crown shows through your gums. Full impaction happens when your whole tooth remains beneath the gums. Impaction may also occur when your teeth grow:

• Angular facing the rear of your mouth.
• Angular facing the second molar.
• Stuck inside your jawbone.
• In a right angle to your other teeth.

Warning Signs

The most common sign of a dental problem is oral pain. To better see the rear of your mouth, use a mirror once the symptoms begin to present themselves. The areas at the back of your mouth are most susceptible to dental issues. These molars have diverse surfaces that may form fissures and cracks. Impaction on wisdom teeth makes them more vulnerable, especially if you have:

• Tender, bleeding gums.
• Halitosis.
• Puffy gums.
• Jaw pain and swelling at the rear of the mouth.
• Trouble opening the mouth or chewing.
• Foul taste in your mouth.

How to Deal With Wisdom Tooth Impaction

The first step in dealing with wisdom tooth impaction is getting a dental X-ray. Your dentist does this as a way of seeing the severity of the impaction. The most common solution to impaction is extraction. If the impaction does not affect the functionality of your teeth, your doctor may recommend no further treatment.

Extraction

Extraction of wisdom teeth with impaction is the easiest solution. Your dentist may recommend this if the condition is causing you pain. They may also recommend this if the condition came after your wisdom teeth were in good condition. Extraction of wisdom teeth can also occur when you have issues with oral health and hygiene.

Risks of Impacted-tooth Removal

Removing your wisdom teeth can have several complications. Among these, two major ones stand out—paresthesia and dry socket. Paresthesia is the numbness that sometimes occurs after tooth removal. 

It is the bruising or damaging of the nerves in the jawbone during the tooth extraction process. The damage to these nerves may affect your lips, tongue, or chin. The numbness can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. It can be permanent in extreme cases.

A dry socket is when your blood takes three to four days to clot following your wisdom tooth extraction. Your dentist may remedy this through medication.

To know more about impacted wisdom teeth, visit Oral Surgical Associates in Missoula or Hamilton, Montana. You can also call (406) 282-8768 to book an appointment today.