Partially and Fully Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Approximately 5 million people in the US have had their wisdom teeth pulled, resulting in an annual cost of $3 billion.

It’s likely that you are one of the individuals who has received this routine surgery. Your dentist more than likely removed them because they were disrupting the health of the rest of your teeth. Our wisdom teeth are the last of our grown-up teeth to form, and they are often pulled during our teens and early adulthood. Sometimes, wisdom teeth surface without any complications or difficulties. For others, painful symptoms and dental problems come along with the development of these teeth.

Wisdom teeth may be partially or fully impacted. A partially impacted wisdom tooth means that only some of the crown is visible, and a fully impacted wisdom tooth means that it has failed to erupt through the patient’s gums. Wisdom teeth don’t always grow in straight. They have been known to grow in upside down, at an angle, or even backward.

Difficulties Created by Wisdom Teeth

Third molars, also known as impacted wisdom teeth, appear at the back of the mouth and fail to form routinely because there is no room for them to develop. There are some cases where the third molars do not cause any pain or annoyance; even so, since these teeth are harder to clean, they tend to be more exposed to gum disease and tooth decay compared to the rest of the teeth. Oral surgeons will always extract impacted wisdom teeth that are causing issues for the patient, and they will also suggest removing the wisdom teeth that aren’t currently causing pain under the anticipation that there will be concerns in the future.

So what kind of pain is related to impacted wisdom teeth? Here’s a list of some conditions you might experience:

▪ Painful gums that bleed or swell
▪ Pain and swelling at the jaw
▪ Issues opening up the mouth
▪ Bad breath

When wisdom teeth grow in, they can cause trouble to the neighboring teeth. Orthodontic procedures might be called for if the incoming wisdom teeth press the other molars forward, leading to overcrowding. There is a possibility of developing a tumor in the mouth– though it is uncommon– and this takes place because the wisdom tooth can develop in a fluid-filled sac within the jawbone, making a cyst. If this arises, the oral surgeon can clear away the bordering bone and tissue. As we mentioned, wisdom teeth are tough to maintain because they reside in the back of the mouth. Along with tooth decay, patients are potentially at risk of an inflammatory gum disease referred to as pericoronitis for these very same causes.

A Fundamental Procedure

Most of the time, the oral surgeon will extract all four wisdom teeth simultaneously, but they might choose to do a few teeth at a time depending upon their or the patient’s choices. The patient will undergo general anesthesia to decrease the amount of pain they might feel during the treatment. Depending on the number of teeth that are being extracted, this procedure can last up to several hours. Probably the most common negative side effects of wisdom teeth removal are swelling and bleeding at the surgery site. These could be managed at home with gauze and ice packs, but if these side effects persist, it is wise to call the performing surgeon.

Controversy

A few people testify that removing wisdom teeth is unneeded and is simply a way for dentists to charge large amounts of money to their patients. Jay W. Friedman, DDS, MPH, has published an article explaining this perspective and the misconceptions that are linked with the eruption of wisdom teeth in young patients. However, the decision to move forward with wisdom teeth removal or to decide against it is ultimately up to the patient. Nevertheless, we encourage our patients to make an informed diagnosis of their pain and irritation and to speak with Dr. Faist for assistance when it concerns the severity of impaction.

Our patients can call the office at (216)464-2448 or they can schedule an appointment online.