Problems and Solutions for Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Everybody gets their wisdom teeth at some point in their lives. Sometimes these teeth move into the mouth with no complications. Other times, however, the teeth get impacted or they grow in too large for the mouth. In these situations, an extraction by an oral surgeon is necessary.

The Formation of Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are your third molars that are in the very back of your mouth. There are usually four, one in each corner of your mouth, top and bottom. Wisdom teeth are the last of your teeth to come in, or erupt through your gums, and this generally happens between the ages of sixteen and twenty six.

At about the age of nine years, a wisdom tooth begins to form in a small sac inside your jaw. By the age of twenty, the crown of the tooth should have fully emerged and by the age of forty, the roots of the wisdom teeth are solidly planted within the jaw.

Impacted Wisdom Tooth

When these teeth become impacted, they are trapped within your jaw and cannot move completely into position. The most common signs of an impacted wisdom tooth are pain and swelling in that area, bad breath, a bad taste when biting down, prolonged headache, and red or swollen gums near the impaction.

Wisdom teeth develop like any other tooth and any other tooth can become impacted. But because wisdom teeth are the last to form, they are more likely to become impacted as there may not be enough room after the other teeth have been in place for several years.

If an impacted wisdom tooth is not removed, complications may occur. These include, but are not limited to, gum disease, crowding, tooth decay, and cysts. All of these complications are painful. The cyst may become infected and an abscess can occur, causing more painful and unpleasant symptoms.

Removal of impacted wisdom teeth is usually performed under general anesthesia in an oral surgeon's office. To reach the impacted tooth, the doctor makes an incision in your gums. Once the incision is made, the flap that has been created can be peeled back and the tooth and jawbone are exposed.

Sometimes forceps can pull the tooth out, but more often than not, the surgeon may need to break the tooth into smaller pieces and then remove it. In more severe cases, parts of the jaw bone may also be removed. You may need stitches to close the gums and gauze will be placed in the mouth to prevent bleeding and to hasten healing. You will leave the surgeons office with specific after care instructions.

Recovery and Precautions

Recovery after the removal of wisdom teeth is usually without complications, but some do arise. Some of them are infection from the food particles that may get stuck in the concave area where the tooth once was.

You can have sinus problems if teeth near the sinuses were removed. Some people experience weakening of the jawbone, particularly if part of the jaw was removed. A dry socket can also form if the clot that formed over the bone becomes dislodged.

Having a dentist or oral surgeon that listens patiently to your concerns and fears helps ease the anxiety that may accompany this procedure. Once it is over and any complications have been treated, your mouth will feel so much better!