All You Need to Know About Partially Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Have you ever wondered why those back molars, called wisdom teeth, can be so painful? Well, when you get a bit older, usually in your late teens or early twenties, wisdom teeth may appear. Sometimes, they don’t come in properly and get stuck under your gum – that’s called “partially impacted.” But no worries – lots of people go through it, even me!
So let’s discuss signs that your wisdom tooth might be causing problems, like red and puffy gums, trouble chewing, and possibly some bad breath. Also, find out various kinds of impacted wisdom teeth and how they can be fixed like with braces and pain relief. And If you hear the word “surgery,” don’t panic – it’s not a painful process.
Additionally, I will discuss problems that arise after the removal of teeth. There are also tips on caring for your mouth after they’re removed to ensure a smooth recovery.
Explore Contents
What is meant by Partially Impacted Wisdom Tooth?
Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars at the back of your mouth, usually showing up between 17 and 25 years old or if your jaw is small. If these teeth can’t come out properly and get stuck under your gum, it’s called “impacted.” These partially impacted wisdom teeth can lead to pain, harm other teeth, and cause dental problems.
But don’t worry – It’s a common dental problem that a lot of people experience in their early adulthood, and I’ve gone through it myself. Here, we’ll discuss the signs of partially impacted wisdom teeth to help you understand better.
Common Symptoms
When your wisdom teeth get stuck, they may not show any signs at first. But if a stuck wisdom tooth gets infected, harms nearby teeth, or causes other dental troubles, you might notice these symptoms:
- Your gums become red or swollen.
- Your gums feel tender or bleed.
- Chewing becomes difficult.
- Your jaw hurts and could also see swelling around your jaw.
- Other teeth nearby get damaged causing other dental issues.
- You have bad breath and an unpleasant taste in your mouth.
- Opening your mouth becomes hard and painful.
But If you experience earaches, headaches, or toothaches, it might be because of your second molar. When your wisdom tooth starts pushing on the second molar, it causes pain in different parts of your face.
Diagnostic Procedure By X-Rays
Your dentist will check your teeth and take a simple mouth X-ray to see if your wisdom teeth are causing problems. The X-ray identifies any impacts on your teeth and other damages to nearby teeth or bones. If your wisdom teeth are impacted or causing issues, various types of impacts might be occurring which are explained below.
Types of Impacted Wisdom Tooth and Their Causes
Wisdom teeth can get stuck when there’s not enough space in your jaw for them. Sometimes, a tooth may come in at the wrong angle, causing it to be impacted. Dentists look at the situation and decide how to treat it. Some common types of stuck wisdom teeth are:
Mesial Impactions:
The most common type of wisdom tooth impaction is mesial impaction. This happens when the wisdom tooth is angled toward the front of your mouth. This situation may or may not cause issues, and it’s typically closely monitored before deciding whether to remove the tooth.
Vertical Impactions:
Vertical impactions happen when a wisdom tooth is in the right place to come out but is still below the gums. Usually, there’s no need to remove it unless it might cause pain or put too much pressure on the nearby tooth root.
Horizontal Impactions:
When a tooth is horizontally impacted, it lies flat under the gums and moves sideways into the nearby tooth instead of coming up properly. This is the most painful type of impacted wisdom teeth. To relieve pain and protect nearby teeth, surgical extraction is needed to remove horizontally impacted wisdom teeth.
Distal Impactions:
The rarest type is distal impaction, where the wisdom tooth is angled towards the back of your mouth. However, the removal of a tooth depends on how much it’s angled and whether it’s partially or fully impacted.
How To Treat Partially Impacted Wisdom Tooth
It’s common for wisdom teeth to get stuck, but not all cases require surgery unless they’re causing problems. Symptoms may resolve on their own as the tooth fully grows, typically by age 25. If problems continue, various treatments are available for stuck teeth, such as:
Braces and brackets
If you’re a teenager or in your early twenties, braces can be helpful. They straighten your teeth and make room for wisdom teeth to come in properly. Additionally, Braces also create space for partially grown teeth.
Non-Surgical Method
Sometimes, your dentist might suggest using pain relief and antibiotics instead of pulling out a tooth. Simple medicines like ibuprofen and paracetamol can help with pain, and you can use them while waiting for your wisdom tooth to be removed.
Surgical Method
If your wisdom tooth is causing problems, your dentist might recommend surgery to remove it. This is typically a quick, same-day procedure. During the surgery, the dentist uses local anesthesia to make the area numb and pain-free then, they cut gums, remove any troublesome bone, and then extract the tooth. Then stitches are used to close the cut, and gauze is placed to aid healing. The entire process usually takes 30 to 60 minutes.
If your tooth is deeply hidden, it might be a bit more challenging for the dentist compared to a partially impacted tooth.
Diseases Caused by an Impacted Wisdom Tooth
Wisdom teeth that are causing issues can lead to various problems in the mouth, such as:
Gum disease
Taking care of wisdom teeth that haven’t fully grown can be challenging. This increases the chances of developing a painful gum condition known as pericoronitis (swelling and infection of the gum tissue) in those areas.
Decay
If your wisdom teeth are not fully out, they are more likely to have cavities than other teeth. It’s tougher to clean them well when they’re only partially out. Also, food and bacteria can easily get trapped between the gum and the partially out tooth.
Cysts
Wisdom teeth grow in sacs in your jawbone. These sacs can fill with fluid and form cysts, causing harm to your jawbone, teeth, and nerves. Sometimes, a noncancerous tumor may develop, requiring the removal of tissue and bone to fix the problem.
Damage to other teeth
If your wisdom tooth pushes too hard against the tooth next to it, it can damage that tooth and may lead to infection. This pressure can also cause crowding of nearby teeth, and fixing it might require orthodontic treatment to straighten them.
Issues You Might Face After Removal of Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Just like any surgery, taking out wisdom teeth has its possible problems and risks, such as:
Dry sockets
After having your wisdom teeth removed, don’t use straws for drinking. This helps prevent the clot in your tooth hole from coming out too soon and keeps the bone protected, reducing the chance of dry sockets.
Damage To Nerves
Sometimes, when removing wisdom teeth, there’s a chance of accidentally harming nerves, jawbone, sinuses, or nearby teeth. Although advanced techniques aim to minimize this risk, it can still happen. If any damage occurs, additional oral surgery is needed to fix the problems.
Aftercare Of Wisdom Tooth To Prevent Any Problems
After surgery, you can return to your regular activities in a few days. It typically takes six weeks for your mouth to completely heal. During the first week, you may have difficulty opening your mouth fully, so it’s recommended to eat soft foods.
After taking out your wisdom teeth, you might feel pain and swelling. Ice packs can help by numbing the pain and reducing the swelling. Take the medicines your doctor gave you for the pain. Stick to the prescription, and you’ll feel better soon.
Personal Tips To Prevent Wisdom Tooth Issues After Extraction
After getting my wisdom teeth removed, taking care of my teeth in the first few weeks was a bit tricky. Brushing was uncomfortable due to soreness. So, I started rinsing gently with mouthwash or warm salt water (mix a flat teaspoon of kitchen salt in a cup of warm water) regularly which helped me a lot.
This simple step made a big difference in preventing issues and keeping the area clean from bits of food.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
If you’re around 17 to 25 and your back molars (wisdom teeth) are causing you pain, it’s quite normal! Sometimes, these teeth get stuck under your gums, creating issues. But don’t worry—I’ve been through it too. Look out for signs like red gums or swelling jawline. Treatments include braces, pain relief, and even a simple surgery can fix it. After removal, be cautious of things like dry sockets. And for extra care, rinse your mouth with saltwater. It’s a usual dental thing that many people handle just fine!
Join the Kairon Polyclinic Family! Stay Healthy, Stay Informed
Subscribe to receive health tips, clinic updates, and exclusive invitations to our health workshops and webinars. Your journey to wellness starts here.