Impacted Wisdom Tooth Symptoms and Treatment

Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, are those last teeth that pop up in your mouth, usually between ages 17 and 25. On average, a person has four wisdom teeth, two in the upper jaw and two in the lower jaw on either side, located at the very end of the jaw.

Wisdom teeth come in without any drama. But sometimes, they don’t have enough room to make their entrance, which can lead to a situation called impaction.

You might have a partially impacted wisdom tooth, where you can see a bit of it peeking above the gums, or a completely impacted one that’s still hiding under there. In this blog, we’ll go over what to watch out for if your wisdom tooth is giving you trouble and how to deal with it.

What are the Symptoms of an Impacted Wisdom Tooth?

An impacted wisdom tooth may not necessarily cause any symptoms. However, if left untreated, it can damage neighboring teeth and cause complications like tooth decay and gum disease. An impacted wisdom tooth develops symptoms as a result of these complications, including:

• Swelling and pain in the jaw
• Bleeding gums
• Redness, tenderness, or swelling in the gums
• Bad breath (halitosis)
• A foul taste in the mouth
• Difficulty in opening the mouth
• Ear pain

What is the Treatment for an Impacted Wisdom Tooth?

If an impacted wisdom tooth becomes symptomatic, the dentist will order an X-ray of the affected area to determine the tooth's exact position. Then, an oral surgeon will create a treatment plan to remove the tooth through a surgical procedure.

During the surgery, the patient receives local anesthesia to numb the area around the tooth, ensuring that there is no pain. A cut is made in the gums to expose the tooth, and any bone that obstructs access to the tooth is also removed. Once the tooth is fully exposed, it is extracted, and the wound is then closed.

After the surgery, the surgeon will prescribe antibiotics and painkillers for a few days for comfortable recovery.

While symptomatic wisdom tooth removal is necessary, some dentists also recommend extracting an asymptomatic impacted wisdom tooth as a preventative measure against future complications.

What Happens if an Impacted Wisdom Tooth is Not Extracted?

If an impacted wisdom tooth is left as it is, it may eventually lead to certain problems, such as:

• The wisdom tooth exerts pressure on the adjacent teeth, leading to crowding.
• The area surrounding the tooth is difficult to clean, making it prone to cavities and gum diseases.
• The wisdom tooth may develop a fluid-filled sac around it, leading to cyst formation.
• More serious complications include noncancerous tumors and infections such as cellulitis.

A wisdom tooth is said to be impacted when it fails to erupt completely into the oral cavity. It may cause pain, discomfort, swelling, infections, and other complications. Therefore, it is essential to remove it surgically. While it is not possible to prevent an impacted wisdom tooth, its complications can be prevented by monitoring the tooth and practicing good oral hygiene.

Vistaa Dental Care is here to make wisdom tooth removal in Goregaon available to you. Book an appointment with us today!