Impacted Wisdom Teeth Auburn MA Impacted wisdom teeth are common in people with healthy and unhealthy teeth. Wisdom teeth are third molars that become partially or completely trapped in your gums or jawbone. Impacted growth can lead to multiple oral health problems, including gum infection, tooth decay, cyst development, and gum disease. Demi Athans, DMD advises patients to get their wisdom teeth checked to avoid oral health problems. Generally, tooth extraction is the appropriate solution to impacted wisdom teeth.What Are Fully Impacted Wisdom Teeth?Fully impacted wisdom teeth grow under the gums and fail to erupt. It is a common condition among dental patients based on natural growth problems. Fully impacted wisdom teeth may develop a gum infection and affect the neighboring teeth. If you feel discomfort, you may schedule an appointment with your dentist to determine the best treatment. What Are Partially Impacted Wisdom Teeth?Partially impacted wisdom teeth have partial exposure due to slight eruptions. Patients with partially impacted wisdom teeth may have some part of the tooth visible while covering the rest under the gum. Partially impacted wisdom teeth may cause gum pain and infection. You may often notice swollen gums in your mouth. What Are Non-Impacted Wisdom Teeth?Non-impacted wisdom teeth are completely visible due to eruption. These teeth come out of the gums like other (natural) teeth. While some non-impacted cases may cause no problems, many patients face gum problems and eating discomfort due to non-impacted wisdom teeth. Your dentist may recommend surgically extracting the teeth when diagnosed with an infection. Types of Impacted Wisdom TeethImpacted wisdom teeth have different types based on their position of growth. Your dentist may best describe the type of impacted wisdom teeth you have. Mesial ImpactionMesial impaction is the most common type of impacted wisdom teeth. It occurs when a wisdom tooth grows towards the front of your mouth.Distal ImpactionDistal impaction is a rare type of impacted wisdom teeth. It occurs when a wisdom tooth grows towards the back of your mouth.Vertical ImpactionVertical impaction is a type of impacted wisdom teeth with the correct growth position (for eruption) but remains trapped under the gums.Horizontal ImpactionHorizontal impaction is a type of impacted wisdom teeth in which a wisdom tooth is angled to the side, impacting other teeth in the line.Common Symptoms of Impacted Wisdom TeethPeople with impacted wisdom teeth may notice several symptoms leading to oral discomfort. While the symptoms may vary for each patient, the common ones include a swollen jaw, painful gums, bleeding gums, a bad taste in the mouth, bad breath, and difficulty opening the mouth fully. How to Treat Impacted Wisdom Teeth?In most cases, dentists recommend surgical tooth extraction of impacted wisdom teeth. These teeth can cause oral health problems and continue to impact other teeth if left untreated. While valid, a dentist may be best able to advise you on the appropriate treatment. According to the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 90% of people have at least one impacted wisdom tooth that leads to oral health problems. If you face any of the mentioned symptoms, you may seek our expert's advice at D.A. Dental. |
