The wisdom teeth typically emerge sometime in a person’s late teens or early twenties. While some people have no problem when these third molars come in, they can cause a variety of complications for many others. In particular, impacted wisdom teeth are molars that emerge incompletely from the gums, and they can be constantly painful while setting a person up for dental infections and injuries. Here are some of the problems impacted wisdom teeth can cause and what you should know about having them removed.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth Hurt
Pain is the most common symptom of impacted wisdom teeth. When the third molars fail to come in properly, they can crowd the neighboring teeth or disrupt their roots. This crowding can cause constant pain as the teeth are pushed too close together, and the aching sensation can extend from the teeth to the gums or even the jaw. While treating this issue with over-the-counter pain relievers may give you temporary relief, it will not address the root cause of the problem.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth Are Vulnerable to Infection
Since impacted wisdom teeth are still partially covered by gum tissue, they create sheltered pockets of space where harmful bacteria can accumulate. Since they emerge from the gums at awkward angles, they are harder to clean and easier to injure, making them especially vulnerable to tooth decay. The crowding wisdom teeth can cause will also make it harder to clean between the neighboring teeth, setting them up for decay and gum disease as well.
How Can Impacted Wisdom Teeth Be Treated?
Dentists recommend that impacted wisdom teeth be removed. The extraction process always begins with an anesthetic treatment to render the process completely painless, and you may receive sedation treatments if you need a little more help sitting comfortably through the procedure. Your oral surgeon will then make small incisions in the gums around the wisdom teeth and then use forceps to gently rock them until they are separated from their sockets. In some cases, larger wisdom teeth will be broken into smaller pieces that can be more easily removed.
Impacted wisdom teeth can be a miserable nuisance that won’t go away on its own. Having them removed can allow you to live much more comfortably.
About the Practice
Midtown Family Dentistry of Dallas delivers the most excellent oral health services available in Dallas, TX. With Drs. Koo, Arnold, Stroud, Ludlow, and Patel at the helm, the staff is dedicated to making dental care pleasant and comfortable. Areas of expertise include general, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency dentistry as well as wisdom tooth removal services. If your wisdom teeth are giving you trouble, contact the office online or dial (469) 529-6016.