Impacted Wisdom Tooth
When a tooth does not penetrate the gum, it is said to be impacted. The wisdom teeth are the ones where this frequently occurs (the third set of molars). They are the last teeth to erupt. They often arrive between the ages of 17 and 21. There might not be enough space for the teeth to erupt due to an overcrowding situation. As they attempt to erupt, teeth may also twist, slant, or get misplaced. They rarely create issues and are frequently painless.
A Malocclusion occurs when an impacted tooth forces the subsequent tooth, which in turn pushes the subsequent tooth.
Pericoronitis, is an inflammation and tenderness of the gums and bad breath, usually happening when a partially emerging tooth can trap food, plaque, and other debris in the soft tissue around, causing bone loss, and decay on the wisdom tooth or nearby teeth, or both.
Symptoms:
An impacted tooth might not show any symptoms, while a partially impacted tooth may have these:
- The gums around the impacted tooth are red and swollen.
- Persistent headache or jaw pain.
- Opening the mouth is difficult (occasionally).
- Enlarged neck lymph nodes (occasionally).
- Unpleasant taste.
Treatment:
No treatment may be needed if an impacted wisdom tooth is not causing any issues. In cases when the soreness is present, medications, warm saltwater gargles, and mouthwashes that are soothing to the gums may be helpful. If the tooth is infected, antibiotics may be provided before extraction. The standard treatment option for an impacted wisdom tooth is extraction.
When wisdom teeth are removed before the age of 20, the results are frequently better than when they are removed later. This is so that the tooth can be removed more easily and heal more effectively because the roots have not yet fully formed. The roots lengthen and curve as a person ages. Bone becomes more rigid, and problems may arise.
If not treated, there could be complications.
An impacted tooth may cause the following complications:
- A tooth abscess or gum abscess (pus accumulation in your wisdom teeth or surrounding tissue as a result of a bacterial infection).
- Pericoronitis occurs when plaque infects the soft tissue that surrounds the tooth.
- A periodontal disease affecting the adjacent teeth (gingivitis, periodontitis)
- Malocclusion (bad tooth alignment).
- Cellulitis is a bacterial infection that affects the cheeks, mouth, and throat.
Recovery following wisdom teeth surgical extraction:
Depending on how complicated the process was and how many wisdom teeth were removed, recovery after surgery can last anywhere between one and two weeks.
It’s possible that you experienced:
- Swelling cheeks that will gradually improve; gently placing a cold cloth across your face helps to minimize swelling.
- Your cheek may experience some minor apparent bruising that lasts for up to two weeks.
- Opening your mouth with difficulty should get better in 7 to 10 days.
- Pain-this is exacerbated if the extraction was complex. use pain relievers like paracetamol or ibuprofen
- Bad taste in your mouth.
- Face, lip, or tongue tingling or numbness (very rare).
The instruction following surgery:
- Avoid rinsing, spitting, hot drinks, and hard food for 14 hours.
- Avoid smoking for the next 3 days, a major contributor to dry sockets.
- Avoid alcohol for the next 24 hours.
- For a few days, consume soft food and chew using your other teeth.
- After 24 hours, gently rinse the extraction site with warm, salty water or an antiseptic mouthwash. Do this three times a day for three days, especially after meals.
- Sleep with your head elevated on 2 pillows.
