An impacted wisdom tooth is often is defined as a tooth that is blocked from breaking through the gum when it tries to erupt. Wisdom teeth like this form at the back of the mouth as a third molar, but sometimes when there’s not enough space. When there isn’t much space, the tooth becomes trapped.
What Is The Cause Of An Impacted Wisdom Tooth?
Impacted wisdom teeth stay embedded in your gum tissue. When it attempts to erupt but fails to, it is likely the area is overcrowded, causing it to become impacted. The tooth could push out in the wrong place and this can impact problems with roots of other teeth.
What Are The Symptoms Of It?
Some symptoms may not be noticeable straightaway, whereas some will take time to appear. A partially impacted wisdom tooth can cause red or swollen gums, bad breath and difficulty in overall mouth functioning. When eating on food, they can become trapped and cause bacteria to build inside the mouth. If you’re considering wearing appliances such as a dental mouthguard or Invisalign, you should consider removing the impacted wisdom tooth first.
How Is An Impacted Wisdom Tooth Treated?
If impacted wisdom teeth are causing you to feel any of the symptoms, it is recommended that the dentist is notified as early as possible for treatment. An oral surgeon will perform treatment with the following steps:
- Step 1 – Local or Sedation Anaesthesia
The oral surgeon will first apply either local anaesthesia to numb the mouth so any pain you feel is limited. Sedation anaesthesia can be used to help you feel consciously relaxed during the procedure if that is a better option.
- Step 2 – Expand The Gums To Prepare For Removal
Once the chosen anaesthesia is applied, the oral surgeon will attempt to extract the wisdom tooth. The surgeon will test your feeling threshold to determine if you’re feeling anything. The surgeon then ensures the affected area is clean and then takes a cut of the gums to expand the socket to remove the molar.
- Step 3 – Grasp The Wisdom Tooth To Remove It
The affected area, once disinfected, is then ready to extract the wisdom tooth. The molar is grasped from side to side gently using forceps equipment. This will cause the tooth to become loose out of its socket to complete the process.
Do You Have An Impacted Wisdom Tooth?
If your wisdom tooth is causing issues, it needs to be removed by the surgeon. It is important that the oral surgeon monitors the tooth to determine the most appropriate steps so it doesn’t impact your neighbouring teeth.
Have you had an impact wisdom tooth removed? Click here to learn about the aftercare tips. Alternativel, if you have an impacted wisdom tooth and need to see a local dentist, contact us here now and we’d be happy to help.