The wisdom teeth erupt when the individual approaches their late teens or early twenties. Although they emerge out of the jawbone socket like any other regular tooth, they sometimes tend to get stuck in awkward positions, leading to severe pain. It could also develop a significant risk of infection, making immediate dental attention crucial in such situations.
What are the causes of impacted wisdom teeth?
- Heredity - inheriting jaw size from one parent and tooth size from the other
- Improperly shaped jawbone
- Smaller jawbone sockets
- Injuries to the teeth or jawbone
- Adjoining tooth roots present at an awkwardly inclined angle
What are the symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth?
- Bleeding gums
- Discharge of pus
- Risk of developing infections near the tooth
- Severe pain, especially while chewing food or moving the jaw
- Damage to the adjoining teeth and tooth roots
- Jawbone deterioration
How are impacted wisdom teeth treated?
If the severity of impaction is minor, we suggest medication or other simpler treatment to get rid of the condition. But, if the tooth is stuck in a very tight position and is causing a lot of pain, we would suggest getting it completely extracted from the mouth. This procedure would be carried out after we administer local sedatives to numb the tooth and surrounding tissues.
A small slit would be made on the gums to expose the impacted tooth. It could be completely or partially stuck under the gums, making it slightly tricky to remove. We may remove it wholly or section it into smaller pieces and remove them individually depending on the severity of impaction. Suitable aftercare instructions will be given to facilitate optimum healing and prevent infections.
You may schedule a consultation with our team of dental experts by calling us at (317) 991-4725 or reaching us through an online query. We’re always happy to help.
