Throughout your lifetime, your teeth will cause you different kinds of problems. Most of the time, these dental issues come with varying levels of pain. For many people, nothing can cause more discomfort and agony than having an impacted tooth.
An impacted tooth is a tooth that does not come out fully because it is blocked as it is pushing through the gum into your mouth. In most cases, only the wisdom teeth can become impacted. This is because one’s wisdom teeth generally come out during the late teen years or early 20s when the jawbone has fully grown to its adult size.
Because of this, the jaw is often too small to accommodate the new wisdom tooth comfortably and its eruption will cause you pain and discomfort, and this can lead to more serious issues that may eventually require an extraction.
Impacted Wisdom Tooth Extraction
The best way to know whether you need to have an impacted wisdom tooth removed or not is to consult your dentist for a professional evaluation and assessment. However, the symptoms below usually indicate a need for immediate extraction:
- Bad breath that never seems to go away
- A consistently bad taste in the mouth
- You feel pain whenever you chew, bite, or even open your mouth
- Having difficulties opening your jaw
- The gums in the back of your mouth are swollen
Your dentist will go over your dental history and have you undergo x-rays. He or she will then examine the general health of your mouth and the condition of the impacted tooth. If the dentist detects an issue with your tooth, extraction is usually recommended to eliminate or avoid any uncomfortable symptoms.
Failing to have your impacted wisdom tooth removed when recommended by your dentist can lead to various dental and health issues. These include:
- Tooth decay – Bacteria, saliva, and food will easily accumulate around an impacted wisdom tooth or the ones beside it, which can eventually lead to a painful infection. This can cause severe pressure and pain, and can even lead to erosion of other healthy teeth.
- Gum infection – If your wisdom tooth has partially erupted through the gum, food particles and bacteria can accumulate beneath the gum, which will result in a local infection. This can lead to pain, swelling, and bad breath and this infection can even spread to the cheek and neck.
- Cyst formation – When an impacted tooth is not removed immediately, a fluid filled sac or cyst can form from the tissue surrounding the tooth. This can cause bone destruction, jaw enlargement, and movement or decay of nearby teeth. Tumors can also start to develop inside these cysts, which can result in a fractured jaw if left to grow.
Early removal of an impacted tooth is generally the best option to avoid more serious issues in the future. You can always consult the professional team of Specialist’s Dental Clinic to know if and when you need your impacted wisdom tooth extracted.