Wisdom teeth, also known as the third molars, are the last teeth to abound in an developed'south complete prepare of teeth. Sometimes, these teeth do not erupt properly. When this happens, dentists refer to these as impacted wisdom teeth.

Adults typically have 32 teeth. Of these, wisdom teeth, or tertiary molars, are the last to appear. They appear at the end of the upper and lower gums, correct in the back of the oral fissure.

Wisdom teeth typically develop in belatedly adolescence or early adulthood, when a person is between 17 and 21 years. It does non usually cause problems when they appear, except when they become trapped under the gums or in the jaw.

A facial X-ray showing the teeth, with a red circle highlighting an impacted wisdom tooth. Share on Pinterest
Photo editing by Stephen Kelly; Photography courtesy of Coronation Dental Specialty Group/Wikimedia

The human being oral cavity normally does not have room for 32 teeth, which includes the four wisdom teeth, so if wisdom teeth come through, they may cause crowding, infections, ear hurting, and swelling.

More often than not, people have 4 wisdom teeth. A person can have between none and four, and in rare cases, individuals may take more than than four.

Having a small jaw or oral fissure with an abundance of teeth does not allow wisdom teeth to come up through — they do not fully emerge into the oral fissure. This tin can likewise lead to crowding, infections, ear hurting, and swelling.

Wisdom teeth can also abound in an singular direction, coming out sideways, at an atypical angle, or only partially. Wisdom teeth that grow in a dissimilar position tin cause pain and damage adjacent teeth. Even if no apparent damage occurs, the angle and position of wisdom teeth tin can brand them susceptible to disease and bacteria buildup, which can lead to infection and disuse.

In most cases, people practise non need to remove their wisdom teeth as long as they do good oral hygiene. However, they may demand removing if a person or dentist notices changes in the mouth.

An impacted wisdom molar tin can crusade a range of issues. These include:

  • mucilage or jaw pain
  • red, swollen gums
  • force per unit area
  • discomfort
  • infection
  • cysts
  • damage to adjacent teeth
  • molar decay
  • gum disease

Additionally, impacted wisdom teeth can push against other teeth and cause crowding. A person may need orthodontic treatments to straighten crooked teeth.

The tooth may grow into a sac in the jawbone, which fills with fluid, creating a cyst. The cyst can harm the jawbone and nearby teeth and nerves.

Rarely, a noncancerous tumor may form, which means surgery to remove tissue and os may be necessary.

The second molar, adjacent to the wisdom tooth, becomes more prone to infection if something is pushing confronting it.

Considering of its location, it tin be more vulnerable to infections, which can lead to:

  • bad breath
  • earache
  • headache
  • a foreign sense of taste in the mouth,
  • toothache
  • swollen gums, which may be redder than usual
  • swollen jaw
  • bleeding gums

More serious infections include cellulitis in the cheek, tongue, or throat. Another infection is gingivitis, the gum illness that results when plaque releases toxins that irritate the gums.

The below remedies could aid relieve symptoms.

  • Using pain relievers can help ease hurting, just a person should swallow them and not leave them on the sore tooth.
  • A mouthwash of warm water and a teaspoon of salt several times a day tin can reduce soreness and inflammation.
  • An antibacterial mouthwash, such as chlorhexidine, can aid with reducing infections.

If the pain continues, a person should seek medical attending.

A dentist may clean the teeth and prescribe antibiotics, only if the problem returns, the teeth may need removing.

The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) states that third molars that have links to causing disease should undergo removal. The AAOMS also recommends that practitioners should actively monitor wisdom teeth in case of complications.

Dentists volition recommend taking out a wisdom tooth if it causes a person pain and discomfort or if it damages or could damage the next teeth or jaw bone.

In the case of asymptomatic impacted wisdom teeth, practitioners cannot accurately predict which wisdom teeth will crusade issues. However, the angle where the tooth erupts and how it pushes against other teeth tin can offer clues.

Do all wisdom teeth demand extracting?

Dentists often leave wisdom teeth lone if they are healthy, fully erupted, and in the appropriate positions and a person tin can easily clean them.

Withal, many dentists and oral surgeons in the United States propose removing impacted wisdom teeth as a preventative measure against infection, such as gum disease and tooth decay.

An AAOMS review too suggests that having a wisdom tooth is more probable to cause a worsened periodontal condition than not having one.

A dentist should too remove impacted wisdom teeth if they volition hinder the other teeth from developing properly.

Previously, people underwent removal of their wisdom teeth, whether or not they were causing any bug. There is still an ongoing contend on whether to remove teeth that are not causing symptoms or to leave them alone.

Even so, in a 2022 study, only 28% of the third molars underwent removal, while 76.4% had justifiable reasons for their removal.

In a 2022 report, nearly one-half of the participants receiving referrals for surgery showed no symptoms, while 36% received referrals for preventive purposes.

What to expect at the dentist

An oral surgeon will remove the wisdom tooth through surgery if necessary. The dentist will take an X-ray of the entire oral fissure to see how the roots prevarication and how the tooth is growing.

The removal may occur at a dentist's surgery or as an outpatient at the hospital. How straightforward the operation is volition depend on the position of the molar or teeth that need removing.

Before the functioning, a healthcare professional volition start evaluate a person for allergies, existing medical atmospheric condition, and intolerances. They will besides disinfect the operating expanse and the mouth.

Some may also ask the patient to have antibiotics earlier and afterwards surgery to reduce the hazard of infection.

The dentist will inject a local anesthetic to numb the molar and the surrounding area. And then, they will make an incision in the gums to expose the tooth and bone. Later this, they will utilize a dental drill to divide the tooth into sections to make information technology easier to remove.

Information technology is important to relax and avoid alcohol and smoking for at least 24 hours to ensure at that place are no bleeding issues.

Wisdom teeth commonly become impacted or trapped in the jaw os or gums because of a lack of space in the mouth.

Another common reason is the teeth coming out at a different angle. A 2022 report shows that genetics may play a role in the position of upper wisdom teeth.

Impacted wisdom teeth tin can grow differently, depending on how the teeth abound:

  • Mesioangular impaction: This means the wisdom molar grows at an angle towards the front of the rima oris.
  • Vertical impaction: This refers to when the wisdom tooth does not break through the glue line.
  • Distoangular impaction: This ways the wisdom tooth grows at an bending towards the dorsum of the mouth.
  • Horizontal impaction: This means the wisdom tooth grows at a ninety-caste bending and into the roots of the molar side by side to it.

Mild problems, such as swelling, haemorrhage, bruising, and pain, after the extraction of wisdom teeth are common, just they are not commonly serious.

However, complications may also occur, which include the below.

Dry socket

A dry socket, or alveolar osteitis, is when a blood clot does not form properly in the socket after removing the wisdom tooth. It can also occur if the jell becomes dislodged before the wound has healed.

Information technology occurs in up to 38% of people who have wisdom tooth surgery.

This can pb to throbbing pain. It usually results from patients not following the dentist's instructions, smoking, rinsing the area too soon after surgery, sucking on it, or touching it with the tongue.

Nerve injury

Nerves tin undergo injury during the removal procedure. Depending on the affected nerve, nervus injury can lead to numbness or paralysis in the lip, tongue, or cheek.

This is most often temporary but tin be permanent if the injury is severe.

Damage to adjacent teeth

Effectually i in 100 people can experience lasting impairment from the procedure, including damage to side by side teeth. Withal, this largely depends on the extent of the surgery.

Fracture

Sometimes, removing the wisdom tooth can crusade a fracture in the maxillary tuberosity, which is just behind the upper wisdom molar.

A lower jaw fracture, or mandibular fracture, can occur during surgery or inside 4 weeks after surgery.

When a wisdom molar does not erupt from the gums properly, dentists refer to this as an impacted wisdom tooth. This can result in mucilage and jaw pain, swollen gums, and general discomfort.

To assistance ease these symptoms, an individual can take hurting relievers, rinse the mouth using a saline solution, or utilize an antibacterial mouthwash.

A person who develops an impacted wisdom molar should contact a dentist who may suggest removing it. After surgery, an individual should follow all care instructions the dentist provides to avoid complications such as dry socket.