7 Possible Complications Of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

7 Possible Complications Of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth removal can be a painful experience so it is understandable why a lot of people want to avoid it as much as possible. Though it can be hard to deny having a wisdom tooth pulled after developing cavities, there are other reasons for the extraction. One of these is that the tooth is impacted.

What’s Impacted Wisdom Tooth?

Having impacted teeth is actually pretty rare so it requires a bit of explanation. Hen a tooth grows out of your jaw, there is usually enough space there. This is mostly because the tooth is a replacement or something similar. However, it is also possible that there is not enough space for the tooth to develop.

When this happens, the tooth hits current teeth and don’t grow in the normal manner. A tooth is either fully, where it does not emerge from the gums, or half-impacted, where some of the teeth are visible in the gumline. The result is that the teeth grow in an angle or even may not get out of the jawbone.

Wisdom teeth are the most common victim of this condition because they are the last molar to appear and often encounter other molars already in place.

Seven Possible Complications

Initially, the presence of an impacted wisdom tooth is not going to be noticeable. However, there are several possible complications that are associated with impacted teeth. Here are seven of them:

Teeth Damage. Your wisdom tooth is still growing and it will keep on pushing against the teeth that you have so your teeth can end up being damaged. The pressure on your teeth can also get really bad that you may end up needing braces to straighten them out.

Developing Cysts. The impacted tooth can push against your teeth and gums, creating a space. Nature hates a vacuum so it will fill up with something. This will fill up with fluids that can damage the surrounding teeth, gums, and bones. At worst, a benign tumor can develop in the area.

Tooth Decay. Impacted wisdom teeth don’t get cleaned as much as normal teeth. This means that they can be potential homes of cavity-causing bacteria. Tooth decay is the inevitable result and you don’t want that happening. Rampant tooth decay can have long-term health effects.

Gum Disease. With the impacted putting pressure on your gums, it should not be a surprise that an increased likelihood of gum disease may develop. Partially-impacted wisdom teeth are also difficult to clean which can also increase the chances of gum disease.

Jaw Pain. With impacted teeth continuing their growth, your teeth can be a source of pain as it pushes against other teeth.

Sinus Complications. Upper wisdom teeth also push up against the nasal cavity so you can expect potential sinus problems if they are left behind.

Numbness. With continued pressure, your nerves in the area may end up getting damaged. This is why numbness may start to develop around your impacted tooth.

Removal

With these complications in mind, having the impacted wisdom teeth removed is often a good idea. Talk with your dentist on how this can be done the next time you’re at their office.
Northern Virginia Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery has a team of experts always ready to help you. Be it a simple wisdom teeth removal, dental implants, or corrective jaw surgery, we can help.

Categories: Health

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Oliver Edwards

Finn Oliver Edwards: Finn, a pediatric nurse, shares child health tips, parenting advice, and preventive measures for common childhood illnesses.