Have you ever felt persistent pain at the back of your mouth that just won’t fade away? You’re not alone. Millions of individuals face wisdom teeth impactions, often resulting in discomfort, swelling, and even harm to nearby teeth.
Our Davie, FL dentist outlines the various types of wisdom teeth impactions patients may encounter. If you require wisdom teeth removal, contact our dental office today to book an appointment at (954) 434-3331.
A wisdom tooth impaction happens when the jaw becomes smaller over time, leaving insufficient space for the third molars to fully emerge. This can lead to numerous oral health problems, such as cavities, gum disease, and infections in the gum tissue. Often, the most effective solution for an impacted wisdom tooth is a surgical tooth extraction with an oral surgeon.
When you visit our dentist in Davie, FL, with concerns about a potentially impacted wisdom tooth, they’ll conduct a dental examination and take X-rays to evaluate the tooth’s position and inclination. This information, combined with your reported symptoms, infections, pain, and any damage to surrounding teeth, will help our dentist determine the type of impaction and the most appropriate treatment plan.
By addressing impacted wisdom teeth promptly, you can maintain your oral health and prevent potential issues such as tooth decay, gum disease, and damage to surrounding teeth.
There are four primary types of wisdom teeth impactions:
Mesial impactions are the most prevalent type of wisdom tooth impaction. In these cases, the tooth is partially erupted and angled towards the front of the mouth instead of the back. This position can lead to problems with adjacent teeth, as the impacted tooth may press against and damage them.
The decision to extract a mesial impacted tooth depends on several factors, such as the tooth’s angle and the extent of its impaction. Dentists typically prefer to monitor mesial impactions closely before deciding on extraction, allowing them to track any changes in the tooth’s position and assess potential risks to surrounding teeth before proceeding.
Vertical impactions occur when the wisdom tooth is correctly positioned but remains beneath the gums. Often, these impactions don’t necessitate extraction, as they may not cause significant problems. However, there are cases where a vertically impacted wisdom tooth might press against the bone or displace a neighboring molar, leading to oral health issues.
In such situations, our dentist may recommend surgical removal of the vertically impacted tooth to prevent further damage and relieve any discomfort.
Horizontal impactions, whether a full or partially impacted wisdom tooth, occur when the tooth lies entirely sideways beneath the gums, pressing against neighboring teeth. This can cause significant pain and damage to adjacent teeth, making it crucial to address horizontal impactions promptly.
Maxillofacial surgery is the advised course of action for horizontally impacted four wisdom teeth. In some instances, it may also be necessary to remove part of the jawbone to successfully extract the impacted tooth. It’s best to remove impacted wisdom teeth to prevent dental problems like gum infections and more.
Distal impactions of molar teeth are relatively rare and occur when the wisdom tooth is angled towards the back of the mouth. The decision to extract a distal impacted tooth depends on the tooth’s angle and the extent of impaction. In some instances, distal impactions may not require extraction, but in others, the tooth’s position could pose a risk to oral health, necessitating removal.
Common symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth include:
The pain can range from mild to severe and may be localized to the area of the impacted tooth. However, symptoms may not always accompany impacted wisdom teeth, and there might be instances where you have an impacted tooth without noticeable signs. This is why regular dental check-ups are essential.
Mesial impactions are the most common type of wisdom tooth impaction, often referred to as “angular impactions” due to the teeth being partially erupted and angled towards the front of the mouth.
There are three types of impaction: soft tissue, partial bony, and complete bony. Soft tissue impaction occurs when there’s not enough room to allow the gum tissue to retract, whereas partial bony impaction is when there’s enough space to allow the wisdom tooth to partially erupt, and complete bony impaction occurs when there’s no space for the tooth to erupt.
Horizontal impactions are considered to be the most painful type of wisdom tooth impaction, while full-bony impacted teeth present the greatest challenge to extract due to being completely stuck in the jaw.
