Impacted Wisdom Teeth and Other Things to Know About Them

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Patient reviewing X-ray for wisdom teeth

When you have impacted wisdom teeth, you need to do something about it, or it will negatively affect how your mouth functions and your teeth move. In this article, we’ll discuss more about wisdom teeth and attempt to answer questions you may have about them.

What Is a Wisdom Tooth?

Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars or back teeth that appear in your mouth at a late age. These teeth usually come from the back of the mouth and protrude from the chewing jaws. They are usually located at the back of your mouth. These molars are known as wisdom teeth because they appear in adulthood.

Why Are Wisdom Teeth Painful?

Sometimes, wisdom teeth may not come out of their socket. They may only come out partially, with the root portion still in the jaw. Or, they can grow in such a way that they push your other teeth out of alignment.

When wisdom teeth can grow entirely and come out of the mouth, you don’t really have to worry about them. As long as they can come out of your socket, you don’t have to worry about any pain. However, if they cannot come out fully and the roots are still inside the gums, then the mouth would have trouble coping with it.

Wisdom teeth can grow in any direction. If they grow in the wrong direction, they will likely be impacted. They only come partway through the gums and stay there for the rest of their lives.

How Are Wisdom Teeth Impacted?

The most common way for wisdom teeth to be impacted is if they don’t have enough space to grow. That may be the result of the jaws being unable to accommodate the whole tooth.

Another common reason why wisdom teeth are impacted is because of crowding. That is when there are too many teeth in a short period in the mouth. Due to the crowding, the other teeth are not given enough space to grow, and they keep pushing the wisdom teeth back.

Having impacted wisdom teeth can mean dental problems in the future. They can also cause you problems when you try to chew your food. Your dentist would be the best person to tell you if you have impacted wisdom teeth.

Why Should I Remove My Impacted Wisdom Teeth?

Aside from pain, there are also several other problems with impacted wisdom teeth. One is gum disease. If your wisdom teeth cannot come out, your gums will get irritated and inflamed. It will result in bleeding and swelling.

The other problem with impacted wisdom teeth is that they prevent the roots of your other teeth from growing properly. That will eventually cause some of your teeth to become loose and fall out.

Conclusion

Impacted wisdom teeth will only make your life miserable if you just ignore them. You should consult a dentist right away if you are experiencing issues with your wisdom teeth. They will be able to assess your condition and tell you if you have impacted wisdom teeth. 

If you have any questions or concerns or want us to look at your impacted wisdom tooth, book an appointment today. Danvers Aesthetic Family Dentistry is your trusted dentist in Danvers, MA, ready to help you achieve the best smile you aim for.