Wisdom teeth are the third and last molars on each side of the upper and lower jaws. They are also the final teeth to erupt; they usually appear when a person is in their late teens or early twenties.
Wisdom teeth are the third and last molars on each side of the upper and lower jaws. They are also the final teeth to erupt; they usually appear when a person is in their late teens or early twenties. An impacted tooth is a tooth that gets blocked as it is pushing through the gum into your mouth (erupting). Wisdom teeth are often impacted.
Wisdom teeth usually begin to come in between the ages of 17 and 21.They may become impacted because there may not be enough space in your mouth for them. A wisdom tooth also may try to erupt sideways or may be tilted .
When an impacted wisdom tooth tries to erupt in the oral cavity ,the gum overlying the impacted tooth may become inflamed and swollen. This can be very painful. One might feel the pain radiating to the ears or side of the face and sometimes to the lower jaw also .If left untreated, pain and infection may become so severe that it may spread to the throat and neck.
This inflammation in medical terms is known as Pericoronitis .Impacted teeth may also get infected with cavities or might push the adjacent tooth causing decay or gum disease or even disturb the alignment of neighbouring teeth due to undue pressure.
Symptoms
⇝ Swelling of the gum in the back of your mouth
⇝ Difficulty opening your jaw
⇝ Bad breath
⇝ A foul taste in the mouth
⇝ Pain when you open your mouth
⇝ Pain when chewing or biting
Pain can occur for several days and then disappear. It can come back weeks or months later.
Treatment
Minor irritation can be relieved by rinsing with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of water). Over-the-counter pain relievers may also help.
If the tooth continues to cause pain, is infected or interferes with nearby teeth, the usual treatment is to take it out. Extracting one tooth can take approximately 10 to 45 minutes, depending on its location. Antibiotics may be prescribed if the infection is very severe and in surgical extractions.
After a surgical extraction one may have have swelling of the cheeks and jaw which can be relieved with the application of icepacks. Follow your dentist's or surgeon's instructions carefully for the best recovery.
An impacted tooth may not bother you or affect nearby teeth. In this case, you won't need immediate treatment. However, your dentist probably will recommend that the tooth be taken out to avoid future problems.
