Impacted Wisdom Teeth Problems: How To Handle Impacted Teeth

What Is Impacted Wisdom Teeth

The four third molars which develop between the ages of 17 and 25 constitute the wisdom teeth in human beings. Sometimes more teeth appear and they are referred to as supernumerary teeth. If they are fewer, the condition is called hypodontia. It is fairly common to have wisdom teeth affect the other teeth in the jaw line as they develop and they come in sideways. This is called impaction and if this occurs the tooth is usually extracted. Impacted wisdom teeth may be fully erupted, or maybe enclosed in the jaw bone or have erupted from the jaw bone and not the gum line. The former is referred to as a bony impaction, while the latter is called a soft tissue impaction. Occasionally the tooth refuses to erupt fully out of the gum bed and a part of the gum behind the particular tooth grows over the tooth, surrounding it. This flap of tissue that is formed is called operculum and can be extremely difficult to clean with a toothbrush. The only way to clean it is to use either hydrogen peroxide to wash it gently or to wash it vigorously with water under moderate pressure by using a syringe without its needle.

Some Tips To Handle Impacted Teeth

One of the problems of impacted wisdom teeth is that bacteria and other debris can accumulate around the tooth and lead to infections symptomised by swelling, bad breath, a bad taste in the mouth, difficulty in opening the mouth, swelling around the area accompanied by pain which may even extend to the neck. Sometimes patients mistake the pain in the neck to be the result of some other ailment before being able to identify the real cause. If the tooth has become impacted or if there is a possibility that it soon will be, extraction is the best option. Once an extraction is done, the site may bleed and ooze for about three days and it is best to not rinse your mouth too often as this may prolong the healing period by dislodging the blood clots formed. Rinsing the mouth with a solution of warm salt water will speed up the healing process and prevent possible infections. It is important to avoid smoking, drinking through a straw and drinking alcohol, blowing one’s nose heavily, spitting frequently and so on as this will inevitably disrupt the healing process. If left untreated, impacted wisdom teeth can impair the functioning of other teeth as well and hence it is important to schedule an appointment with your dentist immediately.