What are Impacted Wisdom Teeth?

wisdom teeth West Palm Beach, FL

Impacted wisdom teeth can cause oral health and cosmetic complications and become painful when not properly treated. It can be helpful to be familiar with what exactly impacted wisdom teeth are. This is in order to know exactly when it is necessary to visit the dentist for treatment to ensure further issues do not develop.

Impacted wisdom teeth overview

Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that are located in the very back of the mouth. When wisdom teeth do not come through, or only a small portion of the tooth comes through, they are considered impacted. The following is everything to know about impacted wisdom teeth and their effect on oral health.

Why wisdom teeth become impacted

Wisdom teeth once served a much more important role and were responsible for chewing, grinding and crushing food. As humankind developed and our eating habits changed, wisdom teeth started to serve a smaller role as the premolars and molars became enough for chewing. Many scientists believe this caused jawbones to become smaller, leaving less room for wisdom teeth to grow in normally. While many still are able to have their wisdom teeth grow in appropriately, others find their wisdom teeth become impacted and require removal to avoid oral health concerns from developing.

Symptoms of an impacted wisdom teeth

In many instances, impacted wisdom teeth do not cause any noticeable complications. This sometimes means the impacted wisdom teeth do not need to be removed. However, any impacted wisdom teeth that cause the following symptoms indicate a more serious concern and likely requires a trip to the dentist for an evaluation:

  • Oral infection
  • Damage to other teeth
  • Gum complications
  • Pain in the jaw area
  • Bad breath

If wisdom teeth do not grow in naturally and any of the above symptoms begin to develop, then it is essential to visit the dentist as soon as possible. This is because early treatment for impacted wisdom teeth can prevent the issue from worsening or lasting for longer than what is necessary.

Impacted wisdom teeth treatment options

Impacted wisdom teeth that do not cause any oral health or cosmetic complications often do not require removal. Monitoring the wisdom teeth and notifying the dentist if any complications do arise may be enough. However, many dentists may recommend having them removed anyway to prevent future complications.

The main form of treatment for impacted wisdom teeth that cause other complications is surgical removal. Although surgery scares many patients, the procedure is safe and a full recovery can be made in a relatively short amount of time.

When to see a dentist for wisdom teeth removal

The longer symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth go untreated the more problematic they can become. Subsequently, it is important to visit the dentist anytime symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth are experienced. It can also be helpful to ask your dentist about the status of your wisdom teeth during your next dental visit.

If you suffer from impacted wisdom teeth that cause concerning symptoms, then consult with our team today and schedule a time to have the teeth examined.

Are you considering wisdom teeth in the West Palm Beach area? Get more wisdom teeth information at https://palmbeachdentalspa.com.

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