Impacted wisdom teeth are the 3rd molars at the back of our mouth. They are the last adult teeth that emerge and when they do, they do not get enough space to emerge and grow normally. Typically people have 4 wisdom teeth at the back of their mouth – 2 are on the on top at either side, while 2 on the bottom. When they get impacted, they can be very painful, damage other teeth and cause other dental problems. Sometimes, they may not cause any immediate or apparent problems. However, since they are difficult to clean, they are more vulnerable to decay and the adjoining gum can get diseased too.
These teeth are more prone to decay and damage. Since an impacted tooth can lead to pain and cause dental complications, dentists recommend that they be extracted. Oral surgeons and dentists also suggest that some other impacted teeth that do not cause any symptoms should also be removed to prevent any problems in the future.
The Cause for Infection
Impacted teeth are enclosed in the soft tissue and the jaw bone. They emerge only partially from the gum. The opening that is created is more than enough for bacteria to enter the area around the teeth. Since this area is not easily accessible, cleaning this tooth and the surrounding gums becomes very difficult. Over a period of time, this leads to an infection which results in jaw stiffness, pain, swelling and oral sensitivity. In some cases general illness may also follow. Brushing and flossing is very difficult.
You will have to ask your dentist about the positioning of the wisdom tooth.
Evaluating Alignment
An x-ray may be taken periodically and the dentist will evaluate the alignment and presence of the wisdom teeth. If they notice an impacted wisdom tooth, he/she will suggest that it be extracted. This will help prevent any future problems. It is easier to do extractions in younger people. This is due to the fact that the roots are not fully developed at this point of time and the bone is also less dense. The recovery period tends to be longer in older people.
Before the impacted wisdom tooth is extracted, the gum area and the tissue that surrounds the tooth will be numbed. A local anesthetic is used for this procedure. In the event that any anxiety controlling medication is administered, you will need to have someone drive you home after the dental procedure.
Source by Susan Solo