If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, you’re not alone. In 2019, only about 64.9 percent of people over the age of 18 visited the dentist.
There are different types of wisdom tooth impactions, and if you haven’t gotten yours taken out then you might be suffering from this. What are the different kinds and how will they impact you? Read this guide to learn about the types of impactions that occur today.
Vertical Impaction
When you’re wondering what to expect when it comes to wisdom tooth extraction, the good news is that vertical impaction rarely needs to be removed. This is due to it almost being in a normal position.
Vertical impaction means that there’s a good chance that it’ll fit into your mouth without any problems. It’ll need to be removed if it’s causing pressure on the molars around it. The good news is that they can be removed and you’ll only need a local anesthetic.
Distal Impaction
This is the least common type of impaction. Your tooth is angled toward the back of your mouth in this position. Whether or not you’ll need an extraction will be based on the degree of the angle of the tooth.
Your dentist might wait a year or 2 to decide if it needs to be removed. If your tooth erupts, it might have a slight incline.
Mesial Impaction
Your local dentist can tell you that this is the most common impaction. This is where your wisdom tooth is tilted and the top of the tooth angles toward the front of the mouth.
How the angle of the tooth is will determine whether or not you’ll need an extraction. Mesial impactions can cause it to press against the nearby molar.
Horizontal Impaction
This is the most painful type of impaction. It’s when the tooth lies completely on its side and presses against your molar. Without an x-ray, it might not be noticeable.
If you let this go, it could cause damage to the surrounding teeth. Horizontal impactions are parallel to the jaw bone.
In order to remove this impaction, your surgeon will also need to remove some of the bone. This will mean that you’ll need general anesthesia or IV sedation.
You might need antibiotics afterward to prevent an infection. Your surgeon can give you painkillers as well.
Impacted Wisdom Tooth Causes
They can be impacted when they don’t have enough room to come in. Wisdom teeth can often pop up between the teenage years or adulthood.
Some people can have wisdom teeth that pop up without a problem. Most people have them removed since most mouths will be too crowded for them.
You might have a partially or fully impacted tooth. If it’s only partially visible then it’s considered partially impacted. Full impaction is when it never breaks through the gums.
Complications
If you let your teeth go, it can lead to other problems such as a cyst. This is due to the wisdom tooth developing in a sac.
The sac can fill with fluid, leading to a cyst. The cyst can cause damage to your teeth, nerves, and jawbone. A tumor can develop that’ll require removal, but it’s rare.
Letting an impacted wisdom tooth go can lead to damage to your other teeth. It can lead to an increased chance of an infection.
Gum disease or decay are also other problems. Impacted wisdom teeth can lead to pericoronitis which is an inflammatory gum condition.
Signs of Infection
You might notice different signs of an infection such as swelling, redness, or tenderness in the area. Moderate to severe pain can also occur. There might be swollen lymph glands underneath your jaw as well.
Headaches can also occur. You might notice pain around the skull and jaw area. It can also radiate to other parts of the face and head. You can even have swollen glands in the neck or shoulder.
Preventing Wisdom Tooth Infections
First, find the best dentist in your area and have a regular checkup. Plan to see your dentist every 6 months in order to prevent any potential problems from occurring. If you have certain medical conditions, your dentist might recommend that you come more often.
Next, you’ll want to use an antiseptic mouthwash. It’ll help control the number of bacteria within your mouth. Look for mouthwashes that have the ADA seal on them.
Keep up with regular brushing and flossing. Use a soft toothbrush in order to maintain good oral hygiene.
Brush your teeth twice a day, and floss at least once per day. It’s ideal to brush your teeth after every meal.
Avoid smoking. Since smoking is an irritant, it can lead to an infected wisdom tooth. Smoking can also lead to stains on your tongue and teeth.
Why Wisdom Teeth Cause Problems
Today, due to proper dental care, we don’t lose our other teeth as often. Due to this, it can lead to too many teeth in your mouth.
Modern diets also use fewer tough foods which cause less wear on your teeth. In the past, our ancestors had larger jaws. Today, we have much smaller jaws which can make it difficult for wisdom teeth to have enough room.
Exploring the Different Types of Wisdom Tooth Impactions
After exploring this guide, you should have a better idea of the different types of wisdom tooth impactions that occur today. Take your time speaking with your dentist to see if you need yours removed.
If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, you’re not alone. In 2019, only about 64.9 percent of people over the age of 18 visited the dentist. And in fact 23% of Americans admit to skipping brushing for two or more days according to ExpressDentist.com.
Would you like to read more informative health content? Be sure to check out our other educational articles on our site today!