We get wisdom teeth, the last pairs of permanent teeth to erupt in the oral cavity, when we are about 17-25 years of age. In some cases, wisdom teeth may not erupt properly because of lack of space in the jawbone. Such teeth are commonly termed as impacted wisdom teeth and they can lead to dental health problems. Wisdom teeth extraction is recommended in cases where our dentist finds out that the teeth are in problematic positions and their presence can increase the risk of dental health issues. Make an appointment and visit our office for a comprehensive dental checkup. Through thorough examination our dentist will let you know how we can improve your oral health. Wisdom teeth extraction is one of the procedures we perform to protect our patients from dental problems. We have patients visiting us from Cary, Raleigh and surrounding communities. Call our office today!
Problems caused by impacted wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth are considered to be impacted when they do not fully erupt from the gum-line. Not all impacted wisdom teeth may create oral health problems. The position of the tooth is thoroughly studied by the dentist to find out if its existence may create oral health problems. Following are some of the common dental health risks associated with impacted wisdom teeth.
- Periodontal disease – When the tooth is partially erupted, it may create gum pockets where there can be more food lodgment. The fact that the wisdom teeth are difficult to clean, makes it easier for the bacteria to infect the soft tissues and lead to gum disease.
- Tooth decay – Since wisdom teeth are difficult to clean and there are chances of more food lodgment in the area, there is increased risk of tooth decay.
- Cysts and Tumor – There is increased risk of formation of cysts and tumor.
- Problems caused to nearby teeth – When wisdom tooth is completely submerged in the bone, it may damage the roots of the teeth nearby.
How are wisdom teeth extracted?
It is important for patients to note that not all impacted wisdom teeth create problems to oral health. The dentist studies the position of teeth to assess the risk of gum disease,
tooth decay and the formation of cyst/tumor. There are different types of impaction. When a tooth is completely submerged in the jawbone it is called as full bony impaction. The teeth that partly come out above the gum-line are called partially erupted teeth. How a wisdom tooth is extracted depends on the position of the teeth. Our dentist may take X-rays to check the position of the tooth.
Partially erupted wisdom tooth
Simple extraction
Our dentist uses local anesthesia to numb the area before extracting the tooth. In simple extraction case, the tooth is partially erupted above the gum-line and it is extracted using forceps and elevators. This process may take less time.
Removal of jawbone
In some partially erupted cases, some amount of jawbone may have to be removed first. An incision is made in the gums and the bone is removed before the tooth is extracted using elevators.
Full bony impaction
In full bony impaction cases, our dentist makes an incision in the gums and uses different dental instruments to create an opening in the bone. The tooth may be segmented and extracted part by part. After the procedure, bone graft material is used to fill the area and the gums are sutured back.
