Impacted Tooth

When wisdom teeth are causing a problem they can become impacted if they aren't extracted. Impacted wisdom teeth are extremely painful and can also be harmful to oral health. On the other hand, the absence of these four wisdom teeth will not hamper one's ability to properly bite down and eat or even speak. In fact, many people need to have their wisdom teeth extracted just to avoid future serious problems such as impacted wisdom teeth.

Recognizing Impacted Wisdom Teeth

There are a variety of impacted wisdom teeth positions including mesial, distal, horizontal, vertical, soft tissue, and bony. These terms refer to the angle (positioning) of impacted wisdom teeth. The most common form is mesial impacted wisdom teeth, which means the tooth is angled forward (towards the front of the mouth.) The simplest explanation of this dental problem is that the wisdom tooth has not emerged into its expected position either by improper angulation, lack of room in the jaw for more teeth, or obstruction by existing teeth. It's easy to recognize the symptoms, which are typically inflammation, various types of infections, and extreme pain.

Extracting Impacted Wisdom Teeth

The best solution for a wisdom tooth that is creating problems is to have it extracted to prevent additional oral health problems from occurring. As soon as a wisdom tooth begins developing, you might want to schedule an appointment with your dentist to make sure things are going smoothly. There is almost always pain associated with the growth of these teeth, so you might need the experienced opinion of an established dental professional to determine if there is an abnormality involved and to provide appropriate treatment if it is necessary.