Ensuring Dental Health and Well-being
Wisdom teeth, the third and final set of molars, typically emerge during late adolescence to early adulthood. While some individuals experience uneventful eruptions, others encounter challenges. Impacted wisdom teeth, occurring when they fail to emerge straight through the gum line, can lead to pain, uneven growth, or partial emergence.
Beyond mere discomfort, impacted wisdom teeth carry the risk of causing structural damage to the jaw and accumulating bacteria due to challenges in cleaning. Therefore, extracting impacted wisdom teeth becomes necessary to prevent potential complications. Routine dental exams, including x-rays, can reveal the need for removal.
At our dental office in Pocatello, ID, we specialize in wisdom teeth extraction. We conduct visual examinations for surfaced wisdom teeth and utilize x-rays for those yet to appear to determine the necessity of extraction. Considering factors like tooth size, mouth shape, and wisdom teeth position, we assess the need for removal. Early extraction reduces the risk of various dental issues such as overcrowding, TMJ issues, infections, tooth decay, and damage to adjacent teeth.
Maintaining proper oral hygiene for wisdom teeth presents challenges, increasing the risk of cavities, gum disease, and infections. Therefore, instead of pursuing temporary solutions like fillings or gum treatments, wisdom teeth removal is generally recommended as the standard of care.
How Can I Determine If My Wisdom Teeth Need To Be Removed?
While every patient's situation may vary, there are several common indicators that may signal the need for wisdom teeth extraction. These signs include:
- When a tooth is trapped under the gums or completely hidden, it's termed impaction. When wisdom teeth fail to emerge normally, they can become stuck in the jaw, potentially causing infection or the formation of a cyst that may harm neighboring teeth or roots.
- Misalignment of the bite - Wisdom teeth may grow at various angles within the jaw, including horizontally, which can result in a shift in your bite alignment.
- Insufficient space for proper emergence of wisdom teeth can lead to overcrowding or damage to surrounding teeth.
- Partial emergence of wisdom teeth through the gums can create a conducive environment for bacteria to thrive, leading to gum disease and oral infection.
Dentists frequently recommend extracting wisdom teeth at a young age, before the roots and bone have fully developed, as it facilitates a faster recovery process.
What Can I Do To Alleviate The Pain Caused By My Wisdom Tooth?
Wisdom teeth usually appear between the ages of 17 and 25. As they advance through the jawbone and begin to emerge from the gum line, they may cause swelling or bleeding, resulting in headaches or toothaches. Here are some solutions that can help ease the discomfort of wisdom tooth pain:
- Please rinse using saltwater.
- To alleviate pain, try using either peppermint essential oils or clover oil.
- Consider taking aspirin or another over-the-counter pain reliever.
- You can use either an ice pack or a heating pad on your cheeks.
What Does It Mean To Have An Impacted Wisdom Tooth?
An impacted wisdom tooth occurs when there isn't enough space for it to emerge properly. The severity of the impaction depends on the tooth's position within the jaw. Soft tissue impaction happens when the tooth's crown has emerged through the bone, but some of the gum still covers it. Partial bony impaction occurs when the tooth has partly erupted, but a portion remains below the jawbone surface. Complete bony impaction is when the tooth is entirely surrounded by the jawbone.
