Wisdom Teeth
Why Should Wisdom Teeth Be Removed?
When wisdom teeth erupt into the mouth and align properly within the arch, removal of these teeth are unnecessary. Unfortunately, this does not generally happen. The extraction of wisdom teeth is necessary when they do not properly erupt within the mouth. They can grow in various orientations, may partially emerge from the gum, or may remain trapped beneath the gum and bone. Impacted teeth can take many awkward positions in the bone as they attempt to erupt into the mouth.
Poorly positioned or impacted wisdom teeth can cause many problems. When they are partially erupted, the opening around the tooth allows bacterial growth leading to infection. Moreover, the pressure from erupting wisdom teeth can cause shifting of your permanent teeth eventually disrupting the natural alignment of your smile.
Cysts or tumors may form around the impacted wisdom tooth causing destruction of the adjacent jaw bone and teeth. Removal of the offending impacted wisdom tooth or teeth usually remedy these problems. Early removal is recommended to avoid future problems and to decrease the surgical risk.
“Cysts or tumors may form around the impacted wisdom tooth causing destruction of the adjacent jaw bone and teeth. Removal of the offending impacted wisdom tooth or teeth usually remedy these problems. Early removal is recommended to avoid future problems and to decrease the surgical risk.
Types of Impactions
We will need to see you for a consultation to determine if you will benefit from wisdom teeth removal. A special x-ray of your mouth and jaws, PANOREX, will be taken to determine if your wisdom teeth are impacted, if there is room for them to erupt, and how difficult it will be to have them removed.
- Soft Tissue Impaction:There is not enough room to allow the gum tissue to retract for adequate cleaning of the tooth.
- Partial Bony Impaction:There is enough space to allow the wisdom tooth to partially erupt. However, the tooth cannot function properly in the chewing process, and creates cleaning problems, among others.
- Complete Bony Impaction:There is NO space for the tooth to erupt. It remains embedded in the jaw bone or if even partially visible requires complex surgical techniques for removal. The impacted wisdom tooth may also be in an unusual position and difficult to remove. This situation can also arise when the shape or size of the jaw bone and other facial structures make removal of this tooth significantly more complex.
