What to do About Impacted Wisdom Teeth
If you start to feel discomfort in the back of your mouth around the age of 17 to 25, then pay attention. It’s highly likely that your wisdom teeth are growing through, and it could be time for a trip to the dentist. While some people have no problems at all with their wisdom teeth, others don’t have such luck.
Perth Dentists advise that most people only have room for up to 28 teeth. However, your third molars, or wisdom teeth, are a late arrival, trying to force their way through your gumline to join the others. Sometimes, they’ll come through with no hassles, and other times; your other teeth don’t want them to arrive at the party. When that happens, your wisdom teeth may become impacted.
What is an Impacted Wisdom Tooth?
A lack of space can cause your wisdom tooth to become impacted. When a tooth is impacted, it doesn’t come through correctly, doesn’t align properly, or even tries to grow in sideways. Often, they can be caught between your jawbone and gum tissue, causing all kinds of problems.
How Do I Know My Wisdom Teeth Are Impacted?
The most obvious way to know your wisdom teeth are having a few problems growing through properly is the pain you experience. As soon as you notice any discomfort, see your dentist. Swelling, pain and infection are not uncommon in this instance. If you don’t act quickly, your wisdom teeth can be hard to remove, damage your jawbone, and even permanently damage your other teeth as well.
Alongside swelling, pain, and infection, you may also notice redness and inflammation. Bad breath and a foul taste in your mouth are also common symptoms. These signs may mean you have an infection or a cyst.
Pain in the region of your wisdom teeth does not always mean your teeth are causing problems. Sometimes, they are growing through perfectly fine. You won’t know until you see your dentist to find out what’s going on.
What Types of Impaction Are There?
When your wisdom teeth are impacted, there is more than one way for this to happen. Full or partial bony impaction, full eruption, or soft tissue impaction are all standard. A full bony impaction is something that your dentist would prefer to avoid. It means your wisdom tooth or teeth are stuck in your jaw.
If you have partial bony impaction, your wisdom tooth is stuck in your jaw, but only partially. In the case of a full eruption, your tooth is through the gum, and any extraction should be straightforward.
You won’t know the severity of the problem or if there is one until you see your dentist. Find out if your wisdom teeth are impacted by making an appointment with your nearest dentist as soon as possible.
