Wisdom teeth are located at the back of the jaw ridges and are often the last set of teeth to erupt. They emerge when the individual is in their late teens or early twenties. Although wisdom teeth surface from the jawbone socket like any other regular tooth in most instances, they may sometimes tend to get stuck in awkward positions. Such a condition is called impacted wisdom teeth, and they can lead to severe complications if left untreated.

What are the causes of impacted wisdom teeth?

The exact reason for wisdom teeth impaction can only be determined by a thorough diagnosis, which will be done by your dentist. Some of the possible causes are:

• Heredity: When individuals inherit the tooth size from one parent and jaw size from the other, the wisdom teeth may have to squeeze out through smaller sockets. This can make them get stuck, leading to a painful condition.
• Obstruction by adjoining teeth: The teeth adjoining the wisdom teeth may sometimes obstruct the ideal eruption of the teeth.
• The angle of inclination: If the wisdom teeth are inclined at an awkward angle, they may come in contact with the adjoining teeth or the underlying jawbone while erupting.

What are its symptoms?

• Severe pain while chewing food or brushing the teeth
• Risk of developing infections near the impacted tooth
• Deterioration of the underlying jawbone
• Possible gum disease
• Possible damage to the adjoining teeth
• Difficulty in moving the jaw
• Inability to bite or chew food as usual

How are impacted wisdom teeth treated?

When you happen to experience severe pain near the wisdom teeth when they are erupting, it is best to seek the advice of a dentist at the earliest. When you visit our dental practice for a consultation, our dentist will thoroughly diagnose the oral condition and take x-rays to get a better view of the tooth and surrounding tissues. It also gives us an understanding of the severity of impaction and if it has affected the jawbone.

Next, the dentist will check if the condition can be treated using medication. If possible, suitable treatment and medication will be suggested so that the wound around the tooth would heal optimally. If not, we will prepare you for a tooth extraction.

The extraction process will be determined basis the severity of impaction. The dentist will administer local anesthesia to numb the oral tissues, as the extraction process can be painful, after which a small slit will be made on the gums to expose the wisdom tooth. The dentist will grip it firmly using forceps, shake it a few times to loosen it from the surrounding tissues, and remove it in one firm motion. In case it is stuck in a tight spot and removing it would damage the surrounding jawbone, we may have to section it into smaller fragments and remove them individually.

Suitable medication and aftercare instructions will be given to facilitate optimum healing.

You may schedule a consultation with Dr. Gubernick, Dentist in Tampa FL and our team of dental experts by calling us at (813) 999-1092 or reaching us through an online query. We’re always happy to help.