| What Is It?
Teeth are impacted when they fail to emerge through the gums, or emerge only
partially, at the expected time.
Your wisdom teeth, also called third molars, usually begin to erupt
between the ages of 17 and 21. Because they are the last to emerge in
the mouth, wisdom teeth are the most common teeth to become impacted.
This may happen because a wisdom tooth is turned to the side, tilted
or otherwise positioned incorrectly in the jaw. Wisdom teeth also become
impacted when there is not enough room in the jaw or the mouth for them
to emerge.
An impacted tooth can be painless, and you may not even realize it's
there. However, when an impacted wisdom tooth tries to erupt, the overlying
gum may swell and cause pain, which may also be felt in nearby teeth
or the ear on that side. A partially erupted tooth can collect food and
other debris, which can lead to gum swelling and an infection called pericoronitis.
If untreated, this infection can spread toward the throat or into the
neck. Impacted teeth also can cause problems if they develop decay or
if they push on the neighboring molar, which could lead to tooth movement
or decay, as well as changes in the bite (the way the teeth come together).
Impacted teeth also can cause cysts and other benign (harmless) jaw tumors.
These can lead to bone destruction. However, this is rare.
Symptoms
Symptoms include:
- Swelling of the gum in the back of the mouth or on the side of the
jaw
- Difficulty opening the jaw
- Bad breath
- An unpleasant taste in the mouth
- Pain or irritation when you open your mouth
- Pain when chewing or biting
Pain can occur for several days and then disappear for weeks or months
before returning.
Diagnosis
Your dentist will examine the area and take X-rays if
needed. X-rays can show where your wisdom teeth are and if they are impacted.
Expected Duration
Symptoms caused by a problematic tooth are relieved when the tooth is extracted.
Prevention
There is no way to prevent an impacted tooth, but careful dental hygiene — brushing,
flossing or the use of water-jet devices — can reduce the risk
of infection.
Treatment
ou can sometimes relieve minor irritation by rinsing with warm salt water
(1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of water) or by taking over-the-counter
painkillers.
If the tooth continues to cause pain, is infected or is interfering
with nearby teeth, the usual treatment is for the tooth to be extracted.
This can sometimes be done in your dentist's office with a local anesthetic,
depending on how far the tooth is under the gum. Extracting one tooth
can take 5 to 30 minutes, depending on the position of the tooth.
People often are referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to have
an impacted tooth removed. It is not uncommon to have all the wisdom
teeth removed to prevent problems in the future. This usually is done
in the surgeon's office with sedation and local anesthesia.
Before the extraction, your dentist or oral surgeon will talk to you
about the procedure and what type of anesthesia and sedatives he or she
will use. You will not be able to eat for six hours before surgery and
should take all your medications on schedule. Someone should drive you
to the appointment and take you home.
After the surgery, your cheeks may swell, and you will find it difficult
to eat some foods. Follow your dentist's or oral surgeon's instructions
carefully to minimize problems.
Complications of surgery are rare but do occur.
If the impacted tooth is not causing irritation or affecting nearby
teeth, you won't need immediate treatment. However, your dentist likely
will recommend that the tooth be extracted to avoid problems later.
Although not all impacted teeth lead to problems, many will. In addition
to causing pain and possibly infection, impacted wisdom teeth can decay
just like teeth that have emerged through the gum. An impacted wisdom
tooth also can lead to the development of a follicular (dentigerous)
cyst, which can damage nearby teeth and has the potential to destroy
nearby bone.
Often, it is better to have wisdom teeth extracted before age 21, sometimes
as early as age 16. The surgery often is less complicated, and the area,
including the surrounding tissue and bone, heals better than if they
are removed later in life.
When To Call A Professional
Because an impacted tooth can damage neighboring teeth or distort the
bite, call your dentist if you experience pain in your molar teeth and
your wisdom teeth have not yet come in. If you visit your dentist regularly,
he or she will keep track of your wisdom teeth and let you know if you
need to have them extracted. Because routine X-rays for cavities often
don't show the wisdom teeth, your dentist may take extra X-rays to check
these teeth.
Prognosis
The outlook after surgery is excellent.
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