Between ages 16 and 21, most adults will develop their third set of molars. These molars are more commonly called wisdom teeth. Some people will have their wisdom teeth grow in and not experience any trouble at all, but for the majority, wisdom teeth can create multiple issues.
Discomfort from the eruption (breaking through the gums) of wisdom teeth comes because of limited space for the teeth to erupt. In some cases, wisdom teeth are impacted (have yet to break through the gums) and can be stuck beneath the gums and/or jawbone.
There are three types of impaction:
Soft tissue impaction: There is limited space available for the wisdom tooth to completely erupt and they are covered by the gums either partially or completely. There can still be a small opening near the wisdom tooth that allows food debris and bacteria to surround the tooth. This can lead to inflammation and ultimately infection.
Partial bony impaction: The tooth is partially covered by jaw bone and is unable to erupt on its own due to several factors, including position and limited remaining space in the jaw. This situation can lead to several potential problems and the tooth is likely to never become functional.
Complete bony impaction: The tooth is completely embedded in the jaw bone and requires more complex surgery to remove it. The position of the tooth and/or the available space for eruption can cause this type of impaction. The tooth is likely never become functional and very well may cause damage to adjacent teeth or jaw structures.
Impacted wisdom teeth can cause symptoms including swollen and tender gums, bleeding gums, jaw pain, swelling or stiffness in the jaw, bad breath, and difficulty opening your mouth.
Third molars should be evaluated annually from the time the patient is a young adult. 9 out of 10 people have at least one wisdom tooth that can’t break through the gums in an upright position. If left alone, an impacted wisdom tooth can become infected or damage neighboring teeth. It can lead to gum disease, damage to adjacent teeth, development of a cyst, or infection.
It’s best to have wisdom teeth removed before they fully develop. The best window for wisdom teeth to be removed is when the roots are about halfway developed. This can be evaluated by a routine exam and x-ray here at Corbin Dental. As a general rule, healing from surgery is faster and more predictable if wisdom teeth are removed in the young adult years, prior to the age of 25. We offer IV sedation for this procedure to provide comfort during wisdom teeth removal. With Dr. Corbin’s diverse skillset from his unique education and training, we provide several specialty procedures here in Franklin, including wisdom tooth removal and IV sedation. If you have questions or would like a consult to discuss wisdom teeth with your hometown dental professionals, give us a call today at Corbin Dental.
